ABSTRACT
*%Rmdyn Purpose: To quantify the prevalence of cataract, the outcomes
z&6_}{2,] of cataract surgery and the factors related to
4j={ 9e< unoperated cataract in Australia.
A
S7L Methods: Participants were recruited from the Visual
{ ADd[V Impairment Project: a cluster, stratified sample of more than
PVI Oe}N 5000 Victorians aged 40 years and over. At examination
<tD,Uu
{P sites interviews, clinical examinations and lens photography
J$#T_4
) were performed. Cataract was defined in participants who
1Gsh%0r3 had: had previous cataract surgery, cortical cataract greater
r
fqwxr45h than 4/16, nuclear greater than Wilmer standard 2, or
`D4Wg<,9 posterior subcapsular greater than 1 mm2.
(/A.,8Ad Results: The participant group comprised 3271 Melbourne
6
9>@0P residents, 403 Melbourne nursing home residents and 1473
^Hx}.?1 rural residents.The weighted rate of any cataract in Victoria
(!*
l+} was 21.5%. The overall weighted rate of prior cataract
"t0^4=c+7 surgery was 3.79%. Two hundred and forty-nine eyes had
l77 -I: had prior cataract surgery. Of these 249 procedures, 49
8 0tA5AP (20%) were aphakic, 6 (2.4%) had anterior chamber
Uu_qy(4 intraocular lenses and 194 (78%) had posterior chamber
&;DCN intraocular lenses.Two hundred and eleven of these operated
G"/;Cq=t eyes (85%) had best-corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or
cXq9k!I% better, the legal requirement for a driver’s license.Twentyseven
Ok!P~2J (11%) had visual acuity of less than 6/18 (moderate
YK/? mj1x vision impairment). Complications of cataract surgery
[+\He/M6 caused reduced vision in four of the 27 eyes (15%), or 1.9%
$MR1
*_\V of operated eyes. Three of these four eyes had undergone
7h\is intracapsular cataract extraction and the fourth eye had an
&]TniQH opaque posterior capsule. No one had bilateral vision
?/.])'&b impairment as a result of cataract surgery. Surprisingly, no
x{pj`'J) particular demographic factors (such as age, gender, rural
[j6]!p]S$ residence, occupation, employment status, health insurance
HhynU/36 status, ethnicity) were related to the presence of unoperated
<Y`(J# cataract.
e|tx`yA Conclusions: Although the overall prevalence of cataract is
E-WpsNJ)X quite high, no particular subgroup is systematically underserviced
x// uF in terms of cataract surgery. Overall, the results of
^&;,n.X5Z cataract surgery are very good, with the majority of eyes
T6
/P54S achieving driving vision following cataract extraction.
XJo.^<m Key words: cataract extraction, health planning, health
ep8UWxB5 services accessibility, prevalence
7&id(&y/ INTRODUCTION
3HyOQD"{ Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and, in
"}X+vd`` Australia, cataract extractions account for the majority of all
y(DT^>0 ophthalmic procedures.1 Over the period 1985–94, the rate
G&h@ of cataract surgery in Australia was twice as high as would be
NnAIL;WS expected from the growth in the elderly population.1
!>F70 Although there have been a number of studies reporting
E]Mx<7;\
. the prevalence of cataract in various populations,2–6 there is
@G;9eh0$ little information about determinants of cataract surgery in
6"_pCkn;c< the population. A previous survey of Australian ophthalmologists
,hf W2} showed that patient concern and lifestyle, rather
Ko&4{}/ than visual acuity itself, are the primary factors for referral
%f<>Kwr`2 for cataract surgery.7 This supports prior research which has
<<-L,0 shown that visual acuity is not a strong predictor of need for
%e[E@H 7 cataract surgery.8,9 Elsewhere, socioeconomic status has
t;+b*S6D been shown to be related to cataract surgery rates.10
)&E] To appropriately plan health care services, information is
yMdu
Zmkc needed about the prevalence of age-related cataract in the
nP[Z6h community as well as the factors associated with cataract
]Sj;\Iz surgery. The purpose of this study is to quantify the prevalence
:^W}$7$T of any cataract in Australia, to describe the factors
H*G(`Zl} related to unoperated cataract in the community and to
ITl>HlS describe the visual outcomes of cataract surgery.
"'t f]s METHODS
;i.MDW^N Study population
GH':Yk Details about the study methodology for the Visual
--diG$x. Impairment Project have been published previously.11
+wz1kPRs Briefly, cluster sampling within three strata was employed to
r<kgYU` recruit subjects aged 40 years and over to participate.
UU(Pg{DA6 Within the Melbourne Statistical Division, nine pairs of
p5qfv>E8) census collector districts were randomly selected. Fourteen
^X6e\]yj nursing homes within a 5 km radius of these nine test sites
rMVcoO@3 were randomly chosen to recruit nursing home residents.
[f\Jcjc Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2000) 28, 77–82
<V)z{uK Original Article
.h4NG4FIF Operated and unoperated cataract in Australia
t{B@k[| Catherine A McCarty PhD, MPH, Mukesh B Nanjan PhD, Hugh R Taylor MD
5s\;7> Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
VMF?qT3Nd n Correspondence: Dr Cathy McCarty MPH, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne,
&0f/
F:M Victoria 3002, Australia. Email:
cathy@cera.unimelb.edu.au v Cej( )) 78 McCarty et al.
+5
I5 Finally, four pairs of census collector districts in four rural
a~@f,b
w Victorian communities were randomly selected to recruit rural
#5h_{q4l residents. A household census was conducted to identify
f99"~)B| eligible residents aged 40 years and over who had been a
Py#EjF12 resident at that address for at least 6 months. At the time of
prt(xr4@ the household census, basic information about age, sex,
3]'ab-,Vp country of birth, language spoken at home, education, use of
L<oQKe7Q: corrective spectacles and use of eye care services was collected.
(Z @dz Eligible residents were then invited to attend a local
zqrqbqK5R examination site for a more detailed interview and examination.
!wUznyYwt The study protocol was approved by the Royal Victorian
Z" H; t\P Eye and Ear Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee.
PA803R74 Assessment of cataract
huA?*fat A standardized ophthalmic examination was performed after
2gklGDJD pupil dilatation with one drop of 10% phenylephrine
&n8Ja@Y] hydrochloride. Lens opacities were graded clinically at the
bBc<p{ time of the examination and subsequently from photos using
Z'9 | the Wilmer cataract photo-grading system.12 Cortical and
<K&A/Ue posterior subcapsular (PSC) opacities were assessed on
{[:C_Up)f retroillumination and measured as the proportion (in 1/16)
N LQ".mM+ of pupil circumference occupied by opacity. For this analysis,
QjXJo$I6 cortical cataract was defined as 4/16 or greater opacity,
[*It' J^ PSC cataract was defined as opacity equal to or greater than
N;YFr 1 mm2 and nuclear cataract was defined as opacity equal to
w^zqYGxG) or greater than Wilmer standard 2,12 independent of visual
0+qC_ISns acuity. Examples of the minimum opacities defined as cortical,
e <{d{ nuclear and PSC cataract are presented in Figure 1.
p),*4@2< Bilateral congenital cataracts or cataracts secondary to
451.VI}MR intraocular inflammation or trauma were excluded from the
Kv!:2br analysis. Two cases of bilateral secondary cataract and eight
Iv3yDL; cases of bilateral congenital cataract were excluded from the
ct|0zl~ analyses.
@8`I!fZ A Topcon® SL5 photo slit-lamp (Topcon America Corp.,
o~y{9Q Paramus, NJ, USA) with a 0.1 mm slit beam of 9.0 mm in
b'SP,}s5" height set to an incident angle of 30° was used for examinations.
aB (pdW4 Ektachrome® 200 ASA colour slide film (Eastman
~vpF|4Zn5 Kodak Company, Rochester, NY, USA) was used to photograph
mE{QT ZS the nuclear opacities. The cortical opacities were
T?[;ej: photographed with an Oxford® retroillumination camera
s&o9LdL (Marcher Enterprises Ltd, Hereford, UK) and T-MAX® 400
h*JN0O<b film (Eastman Kodak). Photographs were graded separately
d>I)_05t by two research assistants and discrepancies were adjudicated
T
lyBpG=p by an independent reviewer. Any discrepancies
Z@x& between the clinical grades and the photograph grades were
t 3N}): resolved. Except in cases where photographs were missing,
3SbZD the photograph grades were used in the analyses. Photograph
mh[,E8'd grades were available for 4301 (84%) for cortical
w0nbL^f cataract, 4147 (81%) for nuclear cataract and 4303 (84%)
z]%@r 7 for PSC cataract. Cataract status was classified according to
rq7yN
t the severity of the opacity in the worse eye.
bp?TO]LH Assessment of risk factors
60%fva A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain information
H'k~;
about education, employment and ethnic background.11
L3Y2HZ Specific information was elicited on the occurrence, duration
2P'Vp7f6 Y and treatment of a number of medical conditions,
S/pU|zV[ including ocular trauma, arthritis, diabetes, gout, hypertension
euT=]j and mental illness. Information about the use, dose and
?xMTO duration of tobacco, alcohol, analgesics and steriods were
BHgs, collected, and a food frequency questionnaire was used to
=bJ$>Djp determine current consumption of dietary sources of antioxidants
BH^*K/^ and use of vitamin supplements.
Cpd>xXZz&S Data management and statistical analysis
0^J%&1a Ic Data were collected either by direct computer entry with a
a(O@E%|u questionnaire programmed in Paradox© (Carel Corporation,
6K8v:yYPa Ottawa, Canada) with internal consistency checks, or
6.45^'t] on self-coding forms. Open-ended responses were coded at
u w8g% a later time. Data that were entered on the self-coded forms
bL0]Yuh were entered into a computer with double data entry and
/#:*hn reconciliation of any inconsistencies. Data range and consistency
jM6$R1HX checks were performed on the entire data set.
OraT$lV)_ SAS© version 6.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina) was
W"#<r employed for statistical analyses.
<
T.R%Jys Ninety-five per cent confidence limits around the agespecific
^qC.bv]& rates were calculated according to Cochran13 to
og+Vrd account for the effect of the cluster sampling. Ninety-five
Bw`? zd\* per cent confidence limits around age-standardized rates
:u=y7[I were calculated according to Breslow and Day.14 The strataspecific
*Z.{1 data were weighted according to the 1996
gV ':Xe Australian Bureau of Statistics census data15 to reflect the
t,XbF cataract prevalence in the entire Victorian population.
L!/{
Z Univariate analyses with Student’s t-tests and chi-squared
0VR,I{<.{ tests were first employed to evaluate risk factors for unoperated
;VCFDE{K= cataract. Any factors with P < 0.10 were then fitted
.|L9
}< into a backwards stepwise logistic regression model. For the
't( #HBU Figure 1. Minimum levels of cortical (a), nuclear (b), and posterior subcapsular (c) cataract.
bfJ<~ss/ final multivariate models, P < 0.05 was considered statistically
#X!seQ7a significant. Design effect was assessed through the use
7{S;~VH3 of cluster-specific models and multivariate models. The
,e`n2)
design effect was assumed to be additive and an adjustment
l_
x jsu made in the variance by adding the variance associated with
Z$Qwn the design effect prior to constructing the 95% confidence
UiK)m:NU limits.
OaN"6Ge# RESULTS
z'>b)wY]( Study population
UAI'tRYN_ A total of 3271 (83%) of the Melbourne residents, 403
6_9@s*=d> (90%) Melbourne nursing home residents, and 1473 (92%)
@Y9tkJIt rural residents participated. In general, non-participants did
rF?QI*`Y( not differ from participants.16 The study population was
ct(euPU representative of the Victorian population and Australia as
a[!:`o1U a whole.
pnv)D}
" The Melbourne residents ranged in age from 40 to
dt<P6pK- 98 years (mean = 59) and 1511 (46%) were male. The
#iD`Bg!VXc Melbourne nursing home residents ranged in age from 46 to
{ueDwnZ 101 years (mean = 82) and 85 (21%) were men. The rural
ldaT:
er9 residents ranged in age from 40 to 103 years (mean = 60)
cSTL.QF and 701 (47.5%) were men.
5]3Mj*u\ Prevalence of cataract and prior cataract surgery
eM7F8j As would be expected, the rate of any cataract increases
6k|f]BCL dramatically with age (Table 1). The weighted rate of any
shY8h
cataract in Victoria was 21.5% (95% CL 18.1, 24.9).
skt9mU Although the rates varied somewhat between the three
h)r=+Q\'(S strata, they were not significantly different as the 95% confidence
.36]>8 limits overlapped. The per cent of cataractous eyes
)o::~ eu with best-corrected visual acuity of less than 6/12 was 12.5%
Ivq|-LDNc (65/520) for cortical cataract, 18% for nuclear cataract
u$"Ew^C (97/534) and 14.4% (27/187) for PSC cataract. Cataract
?Bd6<F-G surgery also rose dramatically with age. The overall
soB_
j weighted rate of prior cataract surgery in Victoria was
Q
A~Lm 3.79% (95% CL 2.97, 4.60) (Table 2).
}%,LV]rGEZ Risk factors for unoperated cataract
$|19]3T@Z Cases of cataract that had not been removed were classified
lp1GK/!s as unoperated cataract. Risk factor analyses for unoperated
Ige*tOv2 cataract were not performed with the nursing home residents
X&%;(` as information about risk factor exposure was not
$j0<ef! available for this cohort. The following factors were assessed
zgSv -h+f in relation to unoperated cataract: age, sex, residence
","to (urban/rural), language spoken at home (a measure of ethnic
QLH6N
mk integration), country of birth, parents’ country of birth (a
}Szs9-Wns measure of ethnicity), years since migration, education, use
Qy'-3GB of ophthalmic services, use of optometric services, private
) !l1 health insurance status, duration of distance glasses use,
KyzdJ^xC" glaucoma, age-related maculopathy and employment status.
u< 5{H='6 In this cross sectional study it was not possible to assess the
aN"dk-eK level of visual acuity that would predict a patient’s having
$&0\BvS cataract surgery, as visual acuity data prior to cataract
ia%U;M surgery were not available.
SMHQh.O?5 The significant risk factors for unoperated cataract in univariate
~" U^N:I" analyses were related to: whether a participant had
G-R
E ever seen an optometrist, seen an ophthalmologist or been
P{>-MT2E diagnosed with glaucoma; and participants’ employment
I!g+K status (currently employed) and age. These significant
:>, m$XO factors were placed in a backwards stepwise logistic regression
BGL-lJrG model. The factors that remained significantly related
j:J7 to unoperated cataract were whether participants had ever
YR0.m%U, seen an ophthalmologist, seen an optometrist and been
kwpbg Q diagnosed with glaucoma. None of the demographic factors
Ku] <$uo were associated with unoperated cataract in the multivariate
d/` d:g model.
wO*x0$ The per cent of participants with unoperated cataract
)ZDqj who said that they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with
690;\O ' Operated and unoperated cataract in Australia 79
9
IY1"j0O Table 1. Prevalence of any cataracta (excluding previous cataract surgery) by age, gender and cohort
@"BkLF Age group Sex Urban Rural Nursing home Weighted total
r>7Dg~)V (years) (%) (%) (%)
G297)MFF 40–49 Male 2.56 4.04 0.00 3.00 (1.91, 4.08)
5,K*IH Female 2.61 1.70 0.00 2.36 (1.61, 3.10)
}Uunlz< 50–59 Male 7.69 6.94 0.00 7.47 (5.80, 9.15)
J I[9c,N Female 6.67 7.56 0.00 6.92 (5.60, 8.24)
&s_)|K 60–69 Male 20.7 25.0 10.0 22.0 (18.1, 26.0)
TWo.c _l Female 27.9 35.7 37.5 30.3 (26.0, 34.7)
_
If:~mIs 70–79 Male 43.1 58.7 39.1 48.1 (41.2, 55.1)
3v:c'R0 Female 58.6 66.2 55.6 61.0 (56.0, 65.9)
?M@ff0 80–89 Male 74.0 89.3 92.0 79.3 (72.3, 86.3)
XiN@$ Female 91.9 97.0 80.2 92.6 (86.4, 98.8)
s<fzk1LZ 90 + Male 100.0 100.0 75.0 98.8 (96.2, 100.0)
E0<$zP}V}F Female 100.0 100.0 93.8 98.6 (97.0, 100.0)
)w&k&TY4H Age-standardized
>r5s>A[YC (95% CL) Combined 19.7 (16.3, 23.1) 23.2 (16.1, 30.2) 16.5 (2.06, 30.9) 21.5 (18.1, 25.0)
zUd{9B$ aCortical > 4/16, nuclear > standard 2, posterior subcapsular > 1 mm2
/WJ+e their current vision was 30% (290/683), compared with 27%
-
4nSiI (26/95) of participants with prior cataract surgery (chisquared,
_q 1E4z 1 d.f. = 0.25, P = 0.62).
56^#x Outcomes of cataract surgery
tAH0o\1; Two hundred and forty-nine eyes had undergone prior
3eJ"7sftW cataract surgery. Of these 249 operated eyes, 49 (20%) were
t{Xf3. left aphakic, 6 (2.4%) had anterior chamber intraocular
\N"=qw^ t lenses and 194 (78%) had posterior chamber intraocular
^%~ux0%^T lenses. The rate of capsulotomy in the eyes with intact
rk .tLk posterior capsules was 36% (73/202). Fifteen per cent of
[nG@
3n eyes (17/114) with a clear posterior capsule had bestcorrected
*Z
C$DW!- visual acuity of less than 6/12 compared with 43%
KJ;NcUq of eyes (6/14) with opaque capsules, and 15% of eyes
"Zq)y_1 (11/73) with prior capsulotomies (chi-squared, 2 d.f. = 7.21,
m(?ZNtBQt P = 0.027).
OVgx2_F The percentage of eyes with best-corrected visual acuity
Y; OqdO of 6/12 or better was 96% (302/314) for eyes without
2P4$^G[ cataract, 88% (1417/1609) for eyes with prevalent cataract
DQRr(r~2Kj and 85% (211/249) for eyes with operated cataract (chisquared,
ohj(1jt 2 d.f. = 22.3), P < 0.001). Twenty-seven of the
[
[;vZ operated eyes (11%) had visual acuities of less than 6/18
=`%"-A (moderate vision impairment) (Fig. 2). A cause of this
B2DWSp-8* moderate visual impairment (but not the only cause) in four
8KhE`C9z (15%) eyes was secondary to cataract surgery. Three of these
( 17=|s four eyes had undergone intracapsular cataract extraction
.|Zt&5osI and the fourth eye had an opaque posterior capsule. No one
OD\F*Ry~ had bilateral vision impairment as a result of their cataract
+X &b surgery.
FSn&N2[D DISCUSSION
<qpDAz4k To our knowledge, this is the first paper to systematically
DEcsFC/SK assess the prevalence of current cataract, previous cataract
E |BE(F;K surgery, predictors of unoperated cataract and the outcomes
7xr@$-U of cataract surgery in a population-based sample. The Visual
mcB8xE Impairment Project is unique in that the sampling frame and
\uTy\KA high response rate have ensured that the study population is
O)E8'Oe"Q representative of Australians aged 40 years and over. Therefore,
E=9xiS these data can be used to plan age-related cataract
JL1z8Nu services throughout Australia.
e dv&! We found the rate of any cataract in those over the age
8vL2<VT; of 40 years to be 22%. Although relatively high, this rate is
SlRQi: significantly less than was reported in a number of previous
f8c
'`$O studies,2,4,6 with the exception of the Casteldaccia Eye
E"l/r4*f@ Study.5 However, it is difficult to compare rates of cataract
1ae,s{| between studies because of different methodologies and
VX<jg #( cataract definitions employed in the various studies, as well
tDk !] as the different age structures of the study populations.
g*& |Eq/ Other studies have used less conservative definitions of
c4'k-\JvT cataract, thus leading to higher rates of cataract as defined.
v.Y?<=E+<d In most large epidemiologic studies of cataract, visual acuity
hhU:
nw has not been included in the definition of cataract.
<HC5YA)4
Therefore, the prevalence of cataract may not reflect the
x #Um` actual need for cataract surgery in the community.
\(db1zmS~ 80 McCarty et al.
?"o7x[ Table 2. Prevalence of previous cataract by age, gender and cohort
e2X\ll Age group Gender Urban Rural Nursing home Weighted total
-xXz}2S4 (years) (%) (%) (%)
?2zbZ 40–49 Male 1.14 0.00 0.00 0.80 (0.00, 1.81)
+6$ |No Female 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (
k)t_U3i 50–59 Male 0.68 0.58 0.00 0.65 (0.13, 1.17)
H`:2J8 Female 0.57 0.00 0.00 0.41 (0.00, 1.00)
abW[
hp 60–69 Male 2.12 7.59 0.00 3.80 (1.41, 6.19)
|*T3TsP u Female 2.11 3.51 0.00 2.54 (1.81, 3.26)
B,_/'DneQK 70–79 Male 8.22 9.85 8.70 8.75 (6.38, 11.1)
h
N5?u: Female 7.21 7.86 7.02 7.41 (5.36, 9.46)
fQkfU;5 80–89 Male 25.0 30.0 14.3 26.2 (17.0, 35.4)
:Q=tGj\G Female 27.9 25.6 18.3 26.7 (20.2, 33.3)
D\ ;(BB 90 + Male 0.00 16.7 66.7 9.19 (0.00, 21.5)
<U]!1 Female 58.3 100.0 26.9 63.1 (44.4, 81.8)
5!b+^UR;z Age-standardized
;Eer (95% CL) Combined 3.31 (2.70, 3.93) 4.36 (2.67, 6.06) 2.26 (0.82, 3.70) 3.79 (2.97, 4.60)
{#_CzI.0f Figure 2. Visual acuity in eyes that had undergone cataract
(T9Q6\sa surgery, n = 249. h, Presenting; j, best-corrected.
<*/IV< Operated and unoperated cataract in Australia 81
cOq'MDr The weighted prevalence of prior cataract surgery in the
<?&Y_ Visual Impairment Project (3.6%) was similar to the crude
cUH.^_a rate in the Beaver Dam Eye Study4 (3.1%), but less than the
o
_G,Ph!7 crude rate in the Blue Mountains Eye Study6 (6.0%).
]VCVV!G_=n However, the age-standardized rate in the Blue Mountains
ev'` K=n8 Eye Study (standardized to the age distribution of the urban
~\oF}7l$ Visual Impairment Project cohort) was found to be less than
+QZ}c@'r the Visual Impairment Project (standardized rate = 1.36%,
I""zg^Rq 95% CL 1.25, 1.47). The incidence of cataract surgery in
Sf>#Zqj/ Australia has exceeded population growth.1 This is due,
y v58~w*" perhaps, to advances in surgical techniques and lens
u^4$<fd implants that have changed the risk–benefit ratio.
JqmxS*_P The Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable
9
zL(PkC%\ Blindness, sponsored by the World Health Organization,
$SOFq+-T states that cataract surgical services should be provided that
=]
+owl2 ‘have a high success rate in terms of visual outcome and
^cnTZzT#Q improved quality of life’,17 although the ‘high success rate’ is
_t/~C*=:= not defined. Population- and clinic-based studies conducted
?]AF?
0/ in the United States have demonstrated marked improvement
JE*
d- in visual acuity following cataract surgery.18–20 We
zCe[+F found that 85% of eyes that had undergone cataract extraction
(k^o[H F had visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Previously, we have
cFZcBiw shown that participants with prevalent cataract in this
QG=K^g cohort are more likely to express dissatisfaction with their
Xk
hGU?={ current vision than participants without cataract or participants
rk-GQ#SKU with prior cataract surgery.21 In a national study in the
I'E7mb<2 United States, researchers found that the change in patients’
M-8
`zA2 ratings of their vision difficulties and satisfaction with their
/os,s[w vision after cataract surgery were more highly related to
aJ"m`5]=% their change in visual functioning score than to their change
nCS" l5 in visual acuity.19 Furthermore, improvement in visual function
oMNSQMlI has been shown to be associated with improvement in
&\y`9QpVF overall quality of life.22
!+u
K@z&G A recent review found that the incidence of visually
Ii&\LJ significant posterior capsule opacification following
v{X<6^g cataract surgery to be greater than 25%.23 We found 36%
I<rT\':9 capsulotomy in our population and that this was associated
mKBO<l{S with visual acuity similar to that of eyes with a clear
EeR} 34 capsule, but significantly better than that of eyes with an
}a%1$>sj opaque capsule.
_CMNmmp`e A number of studies have shown that the demand and
\^
1S:z timing of cataract surgery vary according to visual acuity,
ALQ-aXJ degree of handicap and socioeconomic factors.8–10,24,25 We
E)`:sSd9 have also shown previously that ophthalmologists are more
v!W{j&