Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access

Abstract

Time Trends in Indication for Cataract Surgery

Line Kessel, Birgitte Haargaard, Gøril Boberg-Ans and Vibeke Henning

Background: Due to the increasing proportion of elderly citizens the need for cataract surgery is expected to increase markedly within the next two decades but also the indication level for cataract surgery will influence the need for surgery. The aim of the present study was to examine if the indication for cataract surgery has remained stable over an eight year period in a university clinic setting in the Capitol Region of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Methods: All pre-operative visits from 2002 to 2010 were evaluated yielding a total of 14,701 eyes (9,474 first eye surgeries and 5,227 second eye surgeries). Information was drawn from a database where pre-, peri- and postoperative data regarding all cataract surgeries (except for congenital and childhood cataract) performed at the clinic had been entered at the time of examination/surgery. Evaluation of the indication level for cataract surgery was assessed primarily based on visual acuity.
Results: In the 8 year period, mean visual acuity increased significantly from 0.18 to 0.24 Snellen (corresponding to 0.74 to 0.62 logMAR) in the eyes that underwent surgery first and in second eyes from 0.29 to 0.41 Snellen (corresponding to 0.54 to 0.39 LogMAR, respectively, p-values <0.0001) and concomittantly the mean age of patients at the time of surgery decreased from 75.4 to 71.6 years in females and 72.1 to 69.1 years in males.
Conclusion: During the time period from 2002 to 2010 the indication for cataract surgery changed towards patients being operated at better visual acuities and at younger ages. In the same time period, there was an increase in life expectancy by 2 years. Expectedly, the need for surgery will increase dramatically not only because of an increased proportion of elderly citizens but also because of a tendency towards surgery earlier in the disease process.