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Saturday / February 15.
HomeminewsTimely Cataract Surgery Key to Falls Risk

Timely Cataract Surgery Key to Falls Risk

Older Australians with cataract can wait for substantial periods for both first and second eye cataract surgery in the public hospital system, despite research showing the second surgery is essential to reduce the incidence of falls.

Published by the Medical Journal of Australia, the research analysed data from people aged 65 years or more referred for bilateral age-related cataract surgery during 2013–16, for a maximum of 24 months after study entry or until six months after second eye surgery, whichever was shorter.

Our study adds to the body of evidence supporting investment in timely access to cataract surgery for older people, as it is cost-effective for improving vision and preventing falls

“Age- and sex-adjusted fall incidence prior to surgery was 1.17 falls per year, 0.81 per year after first eye surgery, and 0.41 per year after second eye surgery,” reported Professor Lisa Keay, Head of the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales, and colleagues.

“For the 118 participants who underwent second eye surgery and participated in all follow-up visits, age- and sex-adjusted incidence before (0.80 falls per year) and after first eye surgery (0.81 falls per year) was similar but was lower after second eye surgery (0.32 falls per year).

“Mean habitual binocular visual acuity (logMAR) was 0.32 before surgery, 0.15 after first eye surgery, and 0.07 after second eye surgery.”

Prof Keay and colleagues said cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment in Australia, despite the effectiveness and availability of cataract surgery.

“Cataract-related vision impairment affects 2.7% of non-Indigenous Australians aged 50 years or more,” they wrote.

“Major disparities in access to cataract surgery have been reported in Australia and other high-income countries.

“Our study adds to the body of evidence supporting investment in timely access to cataract surgery for older people, as it is cost-effective for improving vision and preventing falls.”

Cataract surgery delays have been exacerbated by deferral of elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly affecting people who rely on public hospital services.

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