ABSTRACT
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 via 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 (P<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 P<0.05). As participant age increased and education level decreased, the frequency of cataract blindness surgeries gradually decreased, but without statistical significance within groups (P>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.
