ABSTRACT
W.-[ceM Purpose: To quantify the prevalence of cataract, the outcomes
X{9D fgW of cataract surgery and the factors related to
]"q)X{G(+ unoperated cataract in Australia.
P_z3TK Methods: Participants were recruited from the Visual
z\oq b)a Impairment Project: a cluster, stratified sample of more than
|UZ#2 5000 Victorians aged 40 years and over. At examination
J1 a/U@" sites interviews, clinical examinations and lens photography
SM@l4GH were performed. Cataract was defined in participants who
tUGnD<P had: had previous cataract surgery, cortical cataract greater
gJ+MoAM" than 4/16, nuclear greater than Wilmer standard 2, or
Fm`hFBKW posterior subcapsular greater than 1 mm2.
WT;=K0W6& Results: The participant group comprised 3271 Melbourne
KCe =$ residents, 403 Melbourne nursing home residents and 1473
zM|d9TS rural residents.The weighted rate of any cataract in Victoria
..Zuy|?w was 21.5%. The overall weighted rate of prior cataract
%?<C
?. surgery was 3.79%. Two hundred and forty-nine eyes had
?#<Fxme had prior cataract surgery. Of these 249 procedures, 49
ES;7_
.q (20%) were aphakic, 6 (2.4%) had anterior chamber
Lf3Ri/@ p intraocular lenses and 194 (78%) had posterior chamber
j_L 'Ztu3 intraocular lenses.Two hundred and eleven of these operated
9Y&n$svB eyes (85%) had best-corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or
w+=>b better, the legal requirement for a driver’s license.Twentyseven
hWJ\dwF (11%) had visual acuity of less than 6/18 (moderate
c;xL. vision impairment). Complications of cataract surgery
pT>[w1Kk^ caused reduced vision in four of the 27 eyes (15%), or 1.9%
TKx.`Cf
m of operated eyes. Three of these four eyes had undergone
g:dw%h intracapsular cataract extraction and the fourth eye had an
s_hf,QH opaque posterior capsule. No one had bilateral vision
V9`VFO impairment as a result of cataract surgery. Surprisingly, no
vd|PTHV_ particular demographic factors (such as age, gender, rural
#|v\UJ:Pf/ residence, occupation, employment status, health insurance
S:v]3G status, ethnicity) were related to the presence of unoperated
W#P)v{K cataract.
UA!-YTh Conclusions: Although the overall prevalence of cataract is
\L}Soe' quite high, no particular subgroup is systematically underserviced
!e?=I in terms of cataract surgery. Overall, the results of
|g;hXr#~ cataract surgery are very good, with the majority of eyes
Y#V`i K achieving driving vision following cataract extraction.
VE+Q Y9( Key words: cataract extraction, health planning, health
skh6L!6*< services accessibility, prevalence
:;cKns0OA INTRODUCTION
"a6[FqTs Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and, in
-K0>^2hh Australia, cataract extractions account for the majority of all
3BAls+<p o ophthalmic procedures.1 Over the period 1985–94, the rate
0UB)FK,9 of cataract surgery in Australia was twice as high as would be
ry\Nm[SQ expected from the growth in the elderly population.1
!f2f
gX Although there have been a number of studies reporting
OC nQSkj the prevalence of cataract in various populations,2–6 there is
Y #E/"x%+ little information about determinants of cataract surgery in
KhIg
the population. A previous survey of Australian ophthalmologists
&m&Z^
CA showed that patient concern and lifestyle, rather
]dHU than visual acuity itself, are the primary factors for referral
FloCR=^H for cataract surgery.7 This supports prior research which has
}enm#0Ha shown that visual acuity is not a strong predictor of need for
m X{_B!j^ cataract surgery.8,9 Elsewhere, socioeconomic status has
J,Du:|3o been shown to be related to cataract surgery rates.10
v^1_'PAXu To appropriately plan health care services, information is
ShbW[*5 needed about the prevalence of age-related cataract in the
FpN >T community as well as the factors associated with cataract
pKJ0+mN
#" surgery. The purpose of this study is to quantify the prevalence
\CNv,HUm3 of any cataract in Australia, to describe the factors
i}"Eu<
P related to unoperated cataract in the community and to
}G}2Y ( describe the visual outcomes of cataract surgery.
HJWk%t< METHODS
=z`#n}v Study population
Mhp6,JL Details about the study methodology for the Visual
~iI4v#0 Impairment Project have been published previously.11
;}"!| Briefly, cluster sampling within three strata was employed to
}GI8p* ]o= recruit subjects aged 40 years and over to participate.
Xy/lsaVskX Within the Melbourne Statistical Division, nine pairs of
:Rl*64}
census collector districts were randomly selected. Fourteen
6/e+=W2 nursing homes within a 5 km radius of these nine test sites
vdA3 were randomly chosen to recruit nursing home residents.
=E$Hq4I Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2000) 28, 77–82
<4UF/G) Original Article
7HfA{.|m Operated and unoperated cataract in Australia
<g9@iUOI Catherine A McCarty PhD, MPH, Mukesh B Nanjan PhD, Hugh R Taylor MD
4:m/w!q$ Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
)~@iM.}S2 n Correspondence: Dr Cathy McCarty MPH, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne,
X|]
&K Victoria 3002, Australia. Email:
cathy@cera.unimelb.edu.au l@C39VP 78 McCarty et al.
F&pJ faig Finally, four pairs of census collector districts in four rural
^q{=mf` Victorian communities were randomly selected to recruit rural
wX?<o residents. A household census was conducted to identify
A_nu:K- eligible residents aged 40 years and over who had been a
3pQ^vbQ" resident at that address for at least 6 months. At the time of
1=
NP=ZB the household census, basic information about age, sex,
;F3#AO4( country of birth, language spoken at home, education, use of
#i6ZY^+ee corrective spectacles and use of eye care services was collected.
Owt|vceT Eligible residents were then invited to attend a local
P[q` {TdV examination site for a more detailed interview and examination.
WBOebv The study protocol was approved by the Royal Victorian
{[W [S@+ Eye and Ear Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee.
N5]}m:"pk Assessment of cataract
g+ZQ6Hz A standardized ophthalmic examination was performed after
b&iJui"7k pupil dilatation with one drop of 10% phenylephrine
(}^Qo^Vr hydrochloride. Lens opacities were graded clinically at the
)$Tcip` time of the examination and subsequently from photos using
-XcX1_ the Wilmer cataract photo-grading system.12 Cortical and
;_]Z3 posterior subcapsular (PSC) opacities were assessed on
+#$(>6Zu"{ retroillumination and measured as the proportion (in 1/16)
sD_" of pupil circumference occupied by opacity. For this analysis,
R\VM6>SN'S cortical cataract was defined as 4/16 or greater opacity,
*d%U]Hby, PSC cataract was defined as opacity equal to or greater than
v8PH(d2{@ 1 mm2 and nuclear cataract was defined as opacity equal to
wfE%` 1 or greater than Wilmer standard 2,12 independent of visual
B%~D`[~? acuity. Examples of the minimum opacities defined as cortical,
Gd=l{~ nuclear and PSC cataract are presented in Figure 1.
9gS.G2 Bilateral congenital cataracts or cataracts secondary to
Po+tk5}''5 intraocular inflammation or trauma were excluded from the
CHZjK(a analysis. Two cases of bilateral secondary cataract and eight
Td6G u" cases of bilateral congenital cataract were excluded from the
3aK/5)4|B analyses.
_jhdqON6E A Topcon® SL5 photo slit-lamp (Topcon America Corp.,
A&dNCB Paramus, NJ, USA) with a 0.1 mm slit beam of 9.0 mm in
pbM"tr_A{ height set to an incident angle of 30° was used for examinations.
qUW>qi
, Ektachrome® 200 ASA colour slide film (Eastman
Dq~PxcnI Kodak Company, Rochester, NY, USA) was used to photograph
g;M\4o the nuclear opacities. The cortical opacities were
Nvef+L,v photographed with an Oxford® retroillumination camera
TNvE26.( (Marcher Enterprises Ltd, Hereford, UK) and T-MAX® 400
I{V1Le4? film (Eastman Kodak). Photographs were graded separately
@|2}*_3\ by two research assistants and discrepancies were adjudicated
e>oE{_e by an independent reviewer. Any discrepancies
_:tclBc8R between the clinical grades and the photograph grades were
Ya_4[vR< resolved. Except in cases where photographs were missing,
~6hG"t]: the photograph grades were used in the analyses. Photograph
.QhH!#Y2D grades were available for 4301 (84%) for cortical
B-OuBS,fwC cataract, 4147 (81%) for nuclear cataract and 4303 (84%)
0H V-e for PSC cataract. Cataract status was classified according to
BBg&ZIYEh the severity of the opacity in the worse eye.
\sy;ca)[6g Assessment of risk factors
7 %P?3 A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain information
(5"BKu1t
about education, employment and ethnic background.11
JMMsOA_] Specific information was elicited on the occurrence, duration
~YuRi#CTD: and treatment of a number of medical conditions,
J)l]<## including ocular trauma, arthritis, diabetes, gout, hypertension
`R}D@ and mental illness. Information about the use, dose and
;'Pi(TA) duration of tobacco, alcohol, analgesics and steriods were
kUJ\AK collected, and a food frequency questionnaire was used to
\bh3 &Z'. determine current consumption of dietary sources of antioxidants
,{C(<1 and use of vitamin supplements.
VD\pQ.= Data management and statistical analysis
|U_48 Data were collected either by direct computer entry with a
7eh|5e$@ questionnaire programmed in Paradox© (Carel Corporation,
zS:89y< Ottawa, Canada) with internal consistency checks, or
(u]ajT on self-coding forms. Open-ended responses were coded at
J! 4l-.- a later time. Data that were entered on the self-coded forms
}*n(RnCn were entered into a computer with double data entry and
c;w~ -7Q*| reconciliation of any inconsistencies. Data range and consistency
Zq|oj^ checks were performed on the entire data set.
@1#$ SAS© version 6.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina) was
r +]
J {k employed for statistical analyses.
4/{Io &| Ninety-five per cent confidence limits around the agespecific
iSx
xy1R rates were calculated according to Cochran13 to
3zb;q@JV account for the effect of the cluster sampling. Ninety-five
VI%879Z\e per cent confidence limits around age-standardized rates
Rg&6J#h were calculated according to Breslow and Day.14 The strataspecific
laM0W5 data were weighted according to the 1996
?lb1K'( Australian Bureau of Statistics census data15 to reflect the
*seKph+'c cataract prevalence in the entire Victorian population.
-A9 !Y{Z Univariate analyses with Student’s t-tests and chi-squared
A.vcE tests were first employed to evaluate risk factors for unoperated
=JyYU*G4 cataract. Any factors with P < 0.10 were then fitted
[E(DGt into a backwards stepwise logistic regression model. For the
ewgcpV|spn Figure 1. Minimum levels of cortical (a), nuclear (b), and posterior subcapsular (c) cataract.
u+s#Fee I final multivariate models, P < 0.05 was considered statistically
r2.87 significant. Design effect was assessed through the use
!EM21Sc of cluster-specific models and multivariate models. The
JRA. ,tQc design effect was assumed to be additive and an adjustment
n<CJx+U made in the variance by adding the variance associated with
X
r M[8a the design effect prior to constructing the 95% confidence
!{s$V2_ limits.
,-c(D-& RESULTS
da!N0\.1T Study population
]Vl5v5_ A total of 3271 (83%) of the Melbourne residents, 403
D{.%Dr? (90%) Melbourne nursing home residents, and 1473 (92%)
q) /;|h rural residents participated. In general, non-participants did
ACl:~7; not differ from participants.16 The study population was
Lj(hk@ representative of the Victorian population and Australia as
A>>@&c:( a whole.
P
xpz7He The Melbourne residents ranged in age from 40 to
AXPUJ?V 98 years (mean = 59) and 1511 (46%) were male. The
<l wI| < Melbourne nursing home residents ranged in age from 46 to
yc]ni.Hz 101 years (mean = 82) and 85 (21%) were men. The rural
~JLqx/[|s residents ranged in age from 40 to 103 years (mean = 60)
,l;
&Tb=k and 701 (47.5%) were men.
D{'Na5( Prevalence of cataract and prior cataract surgery
f,M$>!$V As would be expected, the rate of any cataract increases
bvG").8$ dramatically with age (Table 1). The weighted rate of any
#yr19i ? cataract in Victoria was 21.5% (95% CL 18.1, 24.9).
Y[s
Although the rates varied somewhat between the three
s
7xRry strata, they were not significantly different as the 95% confidence
&1Cq+YpI limits overlapped. The per cent of cataractous eyes
7=QV ^G with best-corrected visual acuity of less than 6/12 was 12.5%
n#J$=@ (65/520) for cortical cataract, 18% for nuclear cataract
&@+K%qW[e (97/534) and 14.4% (27/187) for PSC cataract. Cataract
M8cLh!! surgery also rose dramatically with age. The overall
oSa FmP weighted rate of prior cataract surgery in Victoria was
)7j"OE 3.79% (95% CL 2.97, 4.60) (Table 2).
n;Iey[7_E` Risk factors for unoperated cataract
pHg8(ru| Cases of cataract that had not been removed were classified
TdQ^^{SRp as unoperated cataract. Risk factor analyses for unoperated
!%s7I^f* cataract were not performed with the nursing home residents
mu{%%b7|^ as information about risk factor exposure was not
5\4>H6 available for this cohort. The following factors were assessed
'E&K%/d in relation to unoperated cataract: age, sex, residence
l?FNYvL (urban/rural), language spoken at home (a measure of ethnic
s}z,{Y$-t integration), country of birth, parents’ country of birth (a
~36c0 = measure of ethnicity), years since migration, education, use
q!ZmF1sU of ophthalmic services, use of optometric services, private
w
x,; health insurance status, duration of distance glasses use,
OT
*W]f glaucoma, age-related maculopathy and employment status.
$Ilr.6'; In this cross sectional study it was not possible to assess the
bZG$ biq level of visual acuity that would predict a patient’s having
bs`/k&' cataract surgery, as visual acuity data prior to cataract
h{JVq72R surgery were not available.
F
Qk; The significant risk factors for unoperated cataract in univariate
}jk^M|Z"Oz analyses were related to: whether a participant had
>b$<lo ever seen an optometrist, seen an ophthalmologist or been
EV(/@kN2 diagnosed with glaucoma; and participants’ employment
^CE:?>a$ status (currently employed) and age. These significant
b,`\"'1
factors were placed in a backwards stepwise logistic regression
C {,d4KG model. The factors that remained significantly related
*FE<'+% to unoperated cataract were whether participants had ever
*7v PU:Q[ seen an ophthalmologist, seen an optometrist and been
2k
gm)-z diagnosed with glaucoma. None of the demographic factors
5 O6MI4: were associated with unoperated cataract in the multivariate
<5#e.w model.
<'B^z0I, The per cent of participants with unoperated cataract
-)Vj08aP who said that they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with
Aa Ma9hvT! Operated and unoperated cataract in Australia 79
( 0h]<7 Table 1. Prevalence of any cataracta (excluding previous cataract surgery) by age, gender and cohort
y5ExEXa Age group Sex Urban Rural Nursing home Weighted total
(j/O=$mJ (years) (%) (%) (%)
FV9RrI2 40–49 Male 2.56 4.04 0.00 3.00 (1.91, 4.08)
xV6j6k Female 2.61 1.70 0.00 2.36 (1.61, 3.10)
,]Ma, 2 50–59 Male 7.69 6.94 0.00 7.47 (5.80, 9.15)
[KKoEZ Female 6.67 7.56 0.00 6.92 (5.60, 8.24)
k$2Y)
60–69 Male 20.7 25.0 10.0 22.0 (18.1, 26.0)
hJ@nW5CI Female 27.9 35.7 37.5 30.3 (26.0, 34.7)
DXGO-]!!0 70–79 Male 43.1 58.7 39.1 48.1 (41.2, 55.1)
$d=lDN Female 58.6 66.2 55.6 61.0 (56.0, 65.9)
D5p22WY 80–89 Male 74.0 89.3 92.0 79.3 (72.3, 86.3)
gkdjH8(2 Female 91.9 97.0 80.2 92.6 (86.4, 98.8)
LQjqwsuN{ 90 + Male 100.0 100.0 75.0 98.8 (96.2, 100.0)
E*l"uV Female 100.0 100.0 93.8 98.6 (97.0, 100.0)
ivq4/Y]-X Age-standardized
>']H)c'2 (95% CL) Combined 19.7 (16.3, 23.1) 23.2 (16.1, 30.2) 16.5 (2.06, 30.9) 21.5 (18.1, 25.0)
7ou^wt+% aCortical > 4/16, nuclear > standard 2, posterior subcapsular > 1 mm2
9s)oC$\ their current vision was 30% (290/683), compared with 27%
'FhnSNT(4= (26/95) of participants with prior cataract surgery (chisquared,
e'Pa@]VaC 1 d.f. = 0.25, P = 0.62).
c>Se Onf Outcomes of cataract surgery
W#[!8d35$ Two hundred and forty-nine eyes had undergone prior
rBf?kDt6l cataract surgery. Of these 249 operated eyes, 49 (20%) were
i@*
^]' left aphakic, 6 (2.4%) had anterior chamber intraocular
!iw
'tHhR lenses and 194 (78%) had posterior chamber intraocular
Exr
7vL lenses. The rate of capsulotomy in the eyes with intact
%
8Z,t+' posterior capsules was 36% (73/202). Fifteen per cent of
7yp*I[1Qf> eyes (17/114) with a clear posterior capsule had bestcorrected
)YFs visual acuity of less than 6/12 compared with 43%
Q
Y'-] of eyes (6/14) with opaque capsules, and 15% of eyes
K5SO($ (11/73) with prior capsulotomies (chi-squared, 2 d.f. = 7.21,
hbeC|_+ P = 0.027).
ho1F8TG= The percentage of eyes with best-corrected visual acuity
Ub,unU of 6/12 or better was 96% (302/314) for eyes without
umzYJ>2t cataract, 88% (1417/1609) for eyes with prevalent cataract
|BW,pT and 85% (211/249) for eyes with operated cataract (chisquared,
G$ FBx 2 d.f. = 22.3), P < 0.001). Twenty-seven of the
7&4,',0VL operated eyes (11%) had visual acuities of less than 6/18
WIm7p1U#V
(moderate vision impairment) (Fig. 2). A cause of this
cy 4'q?r moderate visual impairment (but not the only cause) in four
N+5^h(~ (15%) eyes was secondary to cataract surgery. Three of these
F6p1 VFs four eyes had undergone intracapsular cataract extraction
h86={@Le and the fourth eye had an opaque posterior capsule. No one
F]YKYF'1I had bilateral vision impairment as a result of their cataract
M-N2>i# surgery.
fP58$pwu DISCUSSION
: qRT9n$ To our knowledge, this is the first paper to systematically
KU,w9<~i( assess the prevalence of current cataract, previous cataract
K*$#D1hG surgery, predictors of unoperated cataract and the outcomes
$0T"YC% of cataract surgery in a population-based sample. The Visual
31& .L
nq Impairment Project is unique in that the sampling frame and
Kdu\`c-lB high response rate have ensured that the study population is
A@(h!Cq representative of Australians aged 40 years and over. Therefore,
.To:tN# these data can be used to plan age-related cataract
Y&