Intermediate- and longer-term visual outcomes after cataract surgery: the Blue Mountains Eye Study

• Published in: Clinical & experimental ophthalmology 2011-04, Vol.39 (3), p.201-206
• Main Authors: Kanthan, Gowri L, Mitchell, Paul, Burlutsky, George, Wang, Jie Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astigmatism - physiopathology; Blue Mountains Eye Study; cataract; Cataract Extraction; cataract surgery; Cataracts; Eye surgery; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lens Implantation, Intraocular; Middle Aged; New South Wales; Postoperative Period; Pseudophakia - physiopathology; Refractive Errors - physiopathology; Surgery; Surgical outcomes; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; visual acuity; Visual Acuity - physiology
• ISSN: 1442-6404; 1442-9071
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2010.02440.x

Background:  Limited data are available on long‐term cataract surgical outcomes. We aimed to compare intermediate‐term (up to 5 years) and longer‐term (5–10 years) post‐surgery visual outcomes in an older Australian population. Design:  Population‐based cohort. Participants:  Persons aged 49+ years, living in the Blue Mountains area, west of Sydney. Methods:  Of 3654 baseline participants of Blue Mountains Eye Study, 75% of survivors were seen at each of the 5‐ and 10‐year follow‐up visits; 90 participants (130 eyes) underwent incident cataract surgery during the first 5 years and returned to both follow‐up visits. Main Outcome Measures:  Changes in visual acuity over time, and ocular conditions affecting visual acuity. Results:  After the first (intermediate‐term) follow‐up period, 33/128 eyes (26%) had presenting visual acuity