KUMJ | VOL. 17 | NO. 2 | ISSUE 66 | APRIL-JUNE 2019
Cataract Surgery Incidence Trends in a Tertiary Public Hospital in Malaysia
Thevi T, Abas AL
Abstract: Background
Since cataract is the leading cause of blindness and no study has been done on the
surgical incidence trends, we conducted this research in Melaka.
Objective
To describe incidences of cataract surgery according to basic demographic variables
and types of surgery performed.
Method
Using the National Eye Database (NED), we performed descriptive statistics
calculating incidence rates per 1,000 population by demographic features and types
of cataract operations to look at the trends of surgeries in the population. Statistics
for population were obtained from the department of statistics.
Result
From 2007-2010, 6270 patients mostly 60-69 years underwent cataract surgery.
Phacoemulsification (78.2%) was the commonest surgery performed. The annual
incidence rate of cataract surgery reduced from 2.05 per 1000 population in 2007
to 2.02 per 1000 population in 2010 (p<0.05). Incidence rates for those aged 60 and
above rose while for those aged below nine years it declined. Indians had the highest
incidence rates followed by Chinese and Malays per 1000 population. Females had a
higher incidence rate although there was a declining trend over the years.
Conclusion
Cataract surgery rates showed a decline. Public health education and awareness on
detection and operating upon cataracts should be increased and especially targeted
towards vulnerable groups such as women, individuals of Indian ethnicity and those
aged 50 years and above.
Keyword : Cataract surgery, Melaka public sector, National eye database
