PURPOSE: We analyzed time series changes in cataract surgeries in Korea, and provide basic data to enhance the efficiency of medical services for cataract surgery. METHODS: Among cataract surgery statistics registered in the Korean National Health Insurance Cooperation from 2006 to 2012, we used data regarding the number of patients and operations and the number of patients and operations per 100,000 people. We analyzed various time series changes, including differences by sex and age. RESULTS: The total numbers of patients from 2006 to 2012 by year were 207,370; 228,170; 250,289; 268,548; 289,867; 308,111; and 302,182, respectively. The total numbers of operations from 2006 to 2012 by year were 272,920; 305,807; 338,332; 365,874; 398,338; 428,158; and 420,905, respectively. The number of patients and operations per 100,000 people were highest in men 80 to 84 years old and women 75 to 79 years old. Comparing the number of operations in 2006 and after, the patient age group with the highest increase rate changed from over 85 years old to 75–79 years old since 2010 in men and from over 85 years old to 50–54 years old since 2009 in women. For each year investigated, the number of operations performed was higher than the number of patients who received operations. CONCLUSIONS: Over the study period, the number of cataract surgeries increased, while the age of cataract patients decreased. Additionally, the number of cataract-related surgeries increased in relation to the number of patients.
Cataract Extraction ; Cataract* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; National Health Programs

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical determinants of cataract and cataract surgery in Korean population. The 2008-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was analyzed, which included 20,419 participants aged ≥ 40 years. The survey is a multistage, probability-cluster survey, which can produce nationally representative estimates. Prevalence of cataract and cataract surgery was estimated. Clinical determinants for those were investigated using logistic regression analyses (LRAs). The prevalence of cataract was 42.28% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40.67-43.89); 40.82% (95% CI, 38.97-42.66) for men and 43.62% (95% CI, 41.91-45.33) for women (P = 0.606). The prevalence of cataract surgery was 7.75% (95% CI, 7.30-8.20); 6.38% (95% CI, 5.80-6.96) for men and 9.01% (95% CI, 8.41-9.61) for women (P < 0.001). Cataract was associated with older age (P < 0.001), men (P = 0.032), lower household income (P = 0.031), lower education (P < 0.001), hypertension (P < 0.001), and diabetes mellitus (DM) (P < 0.001). Cataract surgery was consistently associated with older age, occupation, DM, asthma, and anemia in two LRAs, which compared participants with cataract surgery to those without cataract surgery and those having a cataract but without any cataract surgery, respectively. Hypertension, arthritis, and dyslipidemia were associated with cataract surgery at least in one of these LRAs. These results suggest that there are 9.4 million individuals with cataract and 1.7 million individuals with cataract surgery in Korea. Further studies are warranted to reveal the causality and its possible mechanism of developing/exacerbating cataract in novel determinants (i.e., anemia, asthma, and arthritic conditions) as well as well-known determinants.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cataract/complications/*epidemiology ; Cataract Extraction ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications/epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications/epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors

This study was done to report the epidemiologic characteristics of medical retirement from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army due to visual impairment and to suggest a practical screening system for the draft. The medical records of 423 eyes of 301 patients who retired from the ROK Army due to visual impairment were reviewed retrospectively between January 2010 and December 2014. The patients were grouped by the presence of trauma, and each group was subdivided by military rank. We analyzed demographic and ophthalmic data, including the etiology of ophthalmologic disease. The etiology was classified into 5 anatomical categories (ocular surface, lens, retina, optic nerve and extraocular visual pathway, and extraocular muscle and orbit), which were then subdivided into the type of disease. The mean age was 24.5 years, and non-traumatic mechanisms accounted for 81.1% (343/423 eyes) of medical retirements. Visual acuity was better in patients without trauma. In enlisted soldiers, disease in the optic nerve and extraocular visual pathway was the most common anatomical category (40.5%), and primary open angle glaucoma (30.8%), retinal dystrophy (18.3%), congenital cataract (14.5%), and retinal detachment (9.7%) were the four most common diseases. Most medical retirements due to visual impairment resulted from non-traumatic mechanisms, even though patients were young. The fundus examination and visual field test would be more useful tools than a conventional vision test for large-scale draft screening for the most common two disease types: primary open angle glaucoma and retinal dystrophy.
Adult ; Cataract/epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retinal Dystrophies/epidemiology ; *Retirement ; Retrospective Studies ; Vision Disorders/epidemiology/*pathology ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONPerioperative glycaemic control is an important aspect of clinical management in diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery under local anaesthesia. While poor long-term glycaemic control has significant implications for surgery, perioperative hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia may also compromise patient safety and surgical outcomes. We aimed to survey ophthalmologists and anaesthesiologists on their approach and to identify the prevalent practice patterns in Singapore.

METHODSThis was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey conducted in four public hospitals in Singapore with established ophthalmology and anaesthesia units. Respondents were approached individually, and the self-administered questionnaires comprised questions related to practice patterns, clinical scenarios and awareness of pre-existing guidelines.

RESULTSA total of 129 doctors responded to the questionnaire survey. 76 (58.9%) were from ophthalmology departments and 53 (41.1%) were from anaesthesia departments. The majority chose to withhold oral hypoglycaemic agents (82.9%) and/or insulin (69.8%), and keep the patient fasted preoperatively. A blood glucose level ≥ 17 mmol/L prompted 86.0%-93.8% of respondents to adopt a treat-and-defer strategy, while a level ≥ 23 mmol/L prompted 86.0%-96.9% of respondents to cancel the cataract surgery. The respondents were consistently more concerned about perioperative hyperglycaemia (n = 99, 76.7%) than intraoperative hypoglycaemia (n = 83, 64.3%).

CONCLUSIONThe current study presented the prevalent practice patterns of ophthalmologists and anaesthesiologists in the perioperative management of diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery in four public hospitals in Singapore. Further research in this field is required, and may be useful for the future formulation of formal guidelines and protocols.

Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; methods ; Anesthesiologists ; statistics & numerical data ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Cataract Extraction ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmologists ; statistics & numerical data ; Perioperative Care ; methods ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To investigate sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, and comorbidities associated with cataracts in a large, nationally representative Korean sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 715554 adults aged 40 years or older who participated in the 2008-2012 Community Health Survey. Significant risk factors were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis for self-reported cataract, and a nomogram for analysis of cataract risk was generated. RESULTS: Roughly 11% of participants (n=88464) reported being diagnosed with cataracts by a doctor. Age was the most important independent risk factor [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.11, 99% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-1.11 for each increasing year]. Significant comorbidities with descending order of effect size (aOR, 99% CI), included diabetes mellitus (1.78, 1.71-1.85), osteoporosis (1.62, 1.56-1.69), arthritis (1.54, 1.48-1.59), hepatitis B infection (1.46, 1.31-1.63), atopic dermatitis (1.50, 1.33-1.69), angina (1.46, 1.35-1.57), allergic rhinitis (1.45, 1.36-1.55), dyslipidemia (1.38, 1.31-1.45), asthma (1.35, 1.26-1.44), and hypertension (1.23, 1.19-1.28). Subjects who sleep less than 6 hours/day were more likely to have cataract than subjects who sleep more than 9 hours/day as a reference group (aOR=1.22, 99% CI, 1.11-1.34). CONCLUSION: While the most important cataract risk factor was age, the ten comorbidities mentioned above were also significant risk factors. Interestingly, longer duration of sleep was associated with a protective effect against cataract development.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asthma/epidemiology ; Cataract/*epidemiology ; Comorbidity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dermatitis, Atopic/epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Hypertension/epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nomograms ; Odds Ratio ; Population Surveillance/*methods ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Residence Characteristics ; Risk Factors ; Self Report ; Sleep ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term characteristics of cataracts among adults aged 30 to 49 years in Korean over a span of 10 years. METHODS: Subjects between the ages of 30 to 49 years who underwent cataract surgery at St. Mary's Hospital from 1995 to 2004 (n = 976) were included. Patients with a history of ocular trauma, uveitis, other ocular or systemic diseases, and congenital cataracts were excluded. Additional information including type of lens opacity, urban/rural region, and pre- and postoperative visual acuities were analyzed. Lens opacity grading was conducted using Lens Opacity Classification System III. The Cochran-Armitage proportion trend test was used to analyze vision changes with the passage of time. RESULTS: Among the patients who had undergone cataract surgeries, 8.8% (976 / 11,111) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 41.7 +/- 5.45 years. Gender breakdown of the patient population included 79.0% male and 21.0% female. In terms of home environment, 60.9% were from an urban region and 39.1% from a rural region. Opacity type included anterior polar (AP), posterior subcapsular (PSC), AP and PSC, cortical, and nuclear in 35.7%, 35.1%, 7.0%, 6.0%, and 5.4% of patients, respectively. At a 2-month postoperative follow-up appointment, 92.7% of patients showed a best-corrected visual acuity of more than 20 / 40. CONCLUSIONS: Predominance of AP and PSC opacities as well as male patients was observed in this study population.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Age Factors ; Cataract/*epidemiology/pathology ; *Cataract Extraction ; Female ; *Forecasting ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lens Capsule, Crystalline/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To elucidate risk potentiality of frontline radiotherapy associated cataracts in primary ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (OAML). METHODS: Data from eight consecutive patients of 41 total OAML patients who had undergone cataract surgery after frontline radiotherapy were analyzed. RESULTS: The median patient age was 46 years (range, 36 to 69 years). The median total radiation dose was 3,780 cGy (range, 3,060 to 4,500 cGy), and the mean duration from radiation irradiation to cataract surgery was 36.60 +/- 8.93 months. Preoperative lens opacification was primarily at the posterior lens subcapsule, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.43 +/- 0.21. Patients underwent the phacoemulsification surgical procedure with posterior chamber intraocular lens insertion. The average BCVA improved to 0.90 +/- 0.14 after cataract surgery. Two patients underwent posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, and one had posterior capsule rupture. For posterior capsule opacification (PCO), three patients received Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy after the initial surgery, and one patient is currently under consideration for laser posterior capsulotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy increased posterior subcapsule opacification at a relatively young age in primary OAML. Phacoemulsification was a manageable procedure without severe complications, and final visual outcomes were good. However, because after-cataracts progressed earlier than did senile cataracts, close follow-up should be considered for PCO management.
Adult ; Aged ; Cataract/*epidemiology/etiology ; Eye Neoplasms/*radiotherapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/*radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Phacoemulsification ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiotherapy/*adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cataract ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Welding ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cataract surgery in highly myopic Korean subjects. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 694 eyes of 694 patients who underwent cataract surgery. The case group included 347 eyes of 347 patients whose axial lengths (AXL) were > or =26.00 mm, and the control group included 347 eyes of 347 patients with AXL between 22.00 and 25.99 mm. Cataract density was determined preoperatively using the Pentacam Scheimpflug imaging system. We compared age at operation, cataract type, coexisting disease, visual prognosis, and complications. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of the operation was 59.60 +/- 12.28 years in the case group and 67.47 +/- 11.36 years in the control group. The case group had a larger proportion of nuclear cataracts and posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC), 40.63% and 26.22%, respectively, versus 25.07% and 11.82%, respectively, in the control group. Postoperative corrected visual acuity showed a negative correlation with AXL (R2 = 0.172), and severe funduscopic findings were related to poor visual prognosis (p = 0.05). The incidence of retinal detachment in the case group after cataract surgery was 1.72%, compared with 0.28% in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Highly myopic eyes tend to develop cataracts earlier than normal eyes and to have a higher prevalence of coexisting disease and complications, such as retinal detachment. Nuclear cataracts and PSC were more common in the highly myopic group. Poor visual prognosis was associated with longer axial length and retinal myopic degeneration.
Aged ; *Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cataract/*complications/epidemiology/physiopathology ; *Cataract Extraction ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myopia/*complications/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Postoperative Period ; *Refraction, Ocular ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; *Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVEThe paper aims to evaluate the risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in elderly Chinese population in Shenyang, a northeast city of China.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for the prevalence of AMD. Ninety three AMD patients diagnosed by a complete ophthalmic examination were recruited as cases from the outpatient departments of two eye hospitals in Shenyang, while 108 normal subjects of similar age and sex were recruited as controls. A questionnaire was administered among both cases and controls.

RESULTSAMD patients aged 60 years and older accounted for 75.3%. There were significantly higher educational levels, shorter smoking history, less sunlight exposure and cataract, and higher proportion of antioxidants intake in controls than in AMD patients. The frequency of intake of fruits, legumes, fish and shrimps was significantly higher in controls than in AMD patients. In a binary logistic regression analysis, smoking and cataract were the risk factors for AMD (OR: 4.44, 95% CI: 2.27-8.69; OR: 4.47, 95% CI: 2.26-8.85 respectively). The high educational background was a protective factor for AMD (OR: 0.761, 95% CI: 0.51-0.98).

CONCLUSIONA low educational background, smoking and cataract are associated with a higher prevalence of AMD.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antioxidants ; Case-Control Studies ; Cataract ; complications ; China ; epidemiology ; Dietary Supplements ; utilization ; Educational Status ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Sunlight ; adverse effects