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Early assessment of visual acuity after cataract surgery in rural Indonesia
Author(s) -
Bani Anna,
Wang Dandan,
Congdon Nathan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2011.02667.x
Subject(s) - medicine , visual acuity , cataract surgery , eye examination , prospective cohort study , ophthalmology , surgery
A bstract Background: The accuracy and impact on service uptake of early examination after cataract surgery is not known. Design: Prospective cohort study. Participants: Cataract patients in rural Indonesia Methods: Visual acuity was measured preoperatively, 1 day, 1–3, 4–6 and >12 weeks after surgery, and 6–8 months postoperatively at an outreach examination. Acceptance of second‐eye surgery and spectacles was evaluated. Main outcome measure: Presenting visual acuity in the operated eye. Results: Among 241 subjects (extracapsular surgery 84%), examinations at 1 day, 1–3, 4–6 and >12 weeks and 6–8 months were completed for 100% (241), 90.9% (219), 67.6% (163), 22.0% (53) and 80.0% (193), respectively. Among subjects at the final examination (mean age 65.8 ± 10.6 years, 51.8% male), 73.6% had bilateral preoperative presenting visual acuity ≤ 6/60. By 4–6 weeks, the proportion with good (≥6/18) or poor (≤6/60) visual acuity did not differ significantly from the final examination. Among 49 persons accepting free second‐eye surgery, 69.4% (34) and 16.3% (8) returned to clinic at 4–6 and >12 weeks, respectively. Among 131 patients (67.9%) paying US$7 for glasses, 94 (71.8%) and 30 (22.9%) attended 4‐ to 6‐ and >12‐week examinations, respectively. Conclusion: Even with large‐incision surgery, early assessment of postoperative vision is representative of final vision, and may help deliver postoperative services to more of those needing them.