Prevalence and risk factors on age-related cataract and surgery in adults over 50 years old in Binhu District, Wuxi, China.

AIM

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of age-related cataract (ARC), ARC surgery procedures, and postoperative vision results among adults over 50 years old in the Binhu District of Wuxi City, China.

METHODS

Thirty basic sampling units were analyzed a cluster random sampling method. Detailed medical histories were collected and eye examinations were performed. Cataract prevalence and surgical procedures were quantified.

RESULTS

Among the 6150 participants, 1421 cataract cases were diagnosed and prevalence was 23.1%. The prevalence of cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular cataracts increased with age (<0.001). Cataract prevalence was significantly higher among elderly, female, or illiterate individuals and people with hypertension, diabetes, and a history of smoking and drinking (all <0.05). As participant age increased and education level decreased, the frequency of cataract blindness surgeries gradually decreased, but without statistical significance within groups (>0.05). The odds ratio of cataract patients who had or did not have cataract surgery was 3.15 (87/28) and the frequency of cataract blindness surgery was 75.7% (87/115). Poor visual outcomes was in 107 eyes (40.7%) after cataract surgery. Poor vision was mostly caused by uncorrected reflective errors (30.9%) and ocular comorbidities (41.1%). The prevalence of cataract surgery complications was 5.7% (15/263). Surgical complications and posterior capsular opacification were avoidable factors facilitating poor vision.

CONCLUSION

ARC, especially in females and illiterate individuals, presents a public health problem in this district. Poor visual outcomes after cataract surgery are frequent. High-quality cataract surgeries and treatment of ocular comorbidities are vital.