PURPOSE: To determine the cataract surgical coverage and investigate the barriers to cataract surgery in the Kandy District of central Sri Lanka. METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional ophthalmic survey of the inhabitants of rural villages in central Sri Lanka was conducted; there were 1721 eligible subjects and 1375 participated (79.9% participation rate). The recorded data included age, gender, education, district, corrected visual acuity, dilated slit-lamp examination and stereoscopic fundus examination. Lens opacity was graded using the Lens Opacities Classification System III. Participants with cataract-induced visual impairment (acuity <6/18 in the better eye) were also invited to respond to a verbal questionnaire about barriers to cataract surgery. RESULTS: Cataract surgical coverage per individual for visual acuity cut-offs of <6/18, <6/60 and <3/60 was 41.9%, 76.8% and 82.7%, respectively; and per eye was 34.0%, 60.3% and 65.2%, respectively. Cataract surgical coverage was higher for men than women, and two-thirds refused referral for surgery, for the following reasons: no desire to improve vision, fear of surgery and lack of awareness were the most frequently reported barriers. SUMMARY: Cataract surgical coverage in central Sri Lanka is higher than that in neighbouring developing regions. Surgical uptake may be improved through better community education.
PURPOSE: To determine the cataract surgical coverage and investigate the barriers to cataract surgery in the Kandy District of central Sri Lanka. METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional ophthalmic survey of the inhabitants of rural villages in central Sri Lanka was conducted; there were 1721 eligible subjects and 1375 participated (79.9% participation rate). The recorded data included age, gender, education, district, corrected visual acuity, dilated slit-lamp examination and stereoscopic fundus examination. Lens opacity was graded using the Lens Opacities Classification System III. Participants with cataract-induced visual impairment (acuity <6/18 in the better eye) were also invited to respond to a verbal questionnaire about barriers to cataract surgery. RESULTS:Cataract surgical coverage per individual for visual acuity cut-offs of <6/18, <6/60 and <3/60 was 41.9%, 76.8% and 82.7%, respectively; and per eye was 34.0%, 60.3% and 65.2%, respectively. Cataract surgical coverage was higher for men than women, and two-thirds refused referral for surgery, for the following reasons: no desire to improve vision, fear of surgery and lack of awareness were the most frequently reported barriers. SUMMARY:Cataract surgical coverage in central Sri Lanka is higher than that in neighbouring developing regions. Surgical uptake may be improved through better community education.
Authors: Paula Anne Newman-Casey; Sathya Ravilla; Aravind Haripriya; Vinoth Palanichamy; Manju Pillai; Vijayakumar Balakrishnan; Alan L Robin Journal: Ophthalmic Epidemiol Date: 2015 Impact factor: 1.648
Authors: Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya; Karl Peltzer; Amelia Crampin; Edmund Ahame; Zinhle Sokhela Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-12-06 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Saul N Rajak; Esmael Habtamu; Helen A Weiss; Amir Bedri; Mulat Zerihun; Teshome Gebre; Clare E Gilbert; Paul M Emerson; Matthew J Burton Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2012-08-28