Epidemiologic aspects of cataract surgery. II: Regional variation in frequencies.

A large data source was examined to determine age and sex specific cataract extraction rates in different counties and urbanization areas in Denmark. Significant regional variation in surgical rates could be demonstrated in spite of a comprehensive Public Health Service System. When comparing rates in different urbanization areas and in towns with and without ophthalmologists, we found the lowest surgical rates in areas or towns short of ophthalmic service. However, a direct correlation could not be found between standard operation ratio and ophthalmic surgeon/ophthalmic bed supply on county level. The reason might be that cataract extraction rates are influenced by a number of other factors, as cataract extraction has become an elective surgical procedure.