Congenital Cataract: Prevalence and Surgery Age at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC)

Congenital cataract (CC) is the primary cause of treatable childhood blindness. Population-based assessments of prevalence and surgery age of CC, which are critical for improving management strategies, have been unavailable in China until now. We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study of the hospital charts of CC patients younger than 18 years old from January 2005 to December 2010 at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC) in Guangzhou, China. Residence, gender, age at surgery, hospitalization time, and the presence of other ocular abnormalities were extracted and statistically analyzed in different subgroups. The search identified 1314 patients diagnosed with CC from a total of 136154 hospitalizations, which accounted for 2.39% of all the cataract in-patients and 1.06% of the total in-patients over the six-year study period. Of the identified CC patients, 9.2% had ≥2 hospitalizations due to the necessity of additional surgeries, with a total ratio of boys to girls of 1.75∶1. Based on a subgroup analysis according to age, patients 2–6 years old constituted the highest proportion (29.22%) of all hospitalized CC patients, and those 13–18 years old constituted the lowest proportion (13.47%) of the total number. The average age at surgery was 27.62±23.36 months, but CC patients ≤6 years old (especially ≤6 months old) became increasingly prevalent throughout the 6-year study period. A total of 276 cases (20.93%) of CC were associated with one or more other ocular abnormalities, the highest incidence rates were observed for exotropia (6.24%), nystagmus (6.16%), and refractive error (3.65%). In conclusion, CC patients accounted for 2.39% of all cataract in-patients in a review of 6 years of hospitalization charts from ZOC. The age at the time of surgery decreased over the 6-year study period, which probably reflects the continuing improvement of public awareness of children’s eye care in China.     

Cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis associated uveitis

Clinical records of 6 children (7 eyes) with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) who underwent cataract surgery with IOL implantation between January 1998 and December 2002 were reviewed. The median age at the time of cataract surgery was 8 years (range 5-14 years). The median follow up was 48 months (range 26 to 60 months). Five of six children (6 eyes) were on systemic immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory therapy. Glaucoma was present in three eyes before surgery, and all three eyes underwent combined cataract surgery and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C. A final best corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better was achieved in all eyes Postoperative complications included posterior capsule opacification (n = 5), glaucoma (n = 1), and cystoid macular edema (n = 1). Intraocular lens implantation in children with control of preoperative and postoperative ocular inflammation could lead to favorable visual results.     

Intracameral Interleukin 1β, 6, 8, 10, 12p,Tumor Necrosis Factor α and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Axial Length in Patients with Cataract

ObjectiveTo assess associations between the aqueous humour concentration of interleukin IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12p, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and axial length in eyes with cataract.MethodsThe hospital-based investigation included patients who underwent cataract surgery between March 2014 and April 2014. Using aqueous humour collected at the start of cataract surgery, the interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12p, TNF-α and VEGF were examined using a cytometric bead array. Axial length was determined by partial coherence laser interferometry (IOL Master).ResultsThe study included 33 patients with cataract (33 eyes) with a mean age of 69.2±10.8 years (range:50–87 years) and a mean axial length of 24.7±1.9 mm (range:22.6–31.5 mm). Lower aqueous concentration of VEGF was significantly associated with longer axial length (VEGF concentration (pg/mL) = -5.12 x Axial Length (mm) + 163; correlation coefficient r = -0.41; P<0.001) and more myopic refractive error (VEGF concentration (pg/mL) = 1.27xspherical equivalent (diopters)+44.8; r = 0.383; P = 0.002). The aqueous concentrations of all other substances were not significantly (all P>0.10) associated with axial length or refractive error.ConclusionsHigher intravitreal concentrations of VEGF were measured in eyes with a longer axial length, while the intraocular concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p and TNF-α were not correlated with axial length. The lower concentration of VEGF in axially elongated eyes may be one of the reasons for the lower prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy in myopic eyes.     

Blue light filtering intraocular lenses in phacoemulsification cataract surgery

Blue light can damage retina and cause age related macular degeneration. After cataract surgery and lens removal retina stays unprotected. Blue light filtering intraocular lenses (IOL) increase protection of the retina. In our prospective study we investigated clinical results after bilateral implantation of Acrysof Natural IOL to 30 patients (N = 60 eyes). In a control group (N = 60 eyes, 30 patients), standard acrysof IOL was implanted bilaterally. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and Nd YAG laser capsulotomy rate were measured and compared with control group. Subjective patient's satisfaction and subjective colour perception were also investigated. There was no significant difference in UCVA, BCVA and Nd YAG laser capsulotomy rate between the two groups. High patient's satisfaction was noticed (96.7% of patients would implant Acrysof Natural IOL again). Acrysof Natural IOL enables good visual acuity VA, low rate of Nd YAG laser capsulotomy and high patient's satisfaction without colour perception disturbances.     

Cataracts among Chernobyl clean-up workers: implications regarding permissible eye exposures

The eyes of a prospective cohort of 8,607 Chernobyl clean-up workers (liquidators) were assessed for cataract at 12 and 14 years after exposure. The prevalence of strictly age-related cataracts was low, as expected (only 3.9% had nuclear cataracts at either examination), since 90% of the cohort was younger than 55 years of age at first examination. However, posterior subcapsular or cortical cataracts characteristic of radiation exposure were present in 25% of the subjects. The data for Stage 1 cataracts, and specifically for posterior subcapsular cataracts, revealed a significant dose response. When various cataract end points were analyzed for dose thresholds, the confidence intervals all excluded values greater than 700 mGy. Linear-quadratic dose-response models yielded mostly linear associations, with weak evidence of upward curvature. The findings do not support the ICRP 60 risk guideline assumption of a 5-Gy threshold for "detectable opacities" from protracted exposures but rather point to a dose-effect threshold of under 1 Gy. Thus, given that cataract is the dose-limiting ocular pathology in current eye risk guidelines, revision of the allowable exposure of the human visual system to ionizing radiation should be considered.     

Cataract Surgery Visual Outcomes and Associated Risk Factors in Secondary Level Eye Care Centers of L V Prasad Eye Institute,India

Purpose

To evaluate cataract surgery visual outcomes and associated risk factors in rural secondary level eye care centers of L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), India.

Methods

The Eye Health pyramid of LVPEI has a network of rural secondary care centres (SCs) and attached vision centres (VCs) that provide high quality comprehensive eye care with permanent infrastructure to the most disadvantaged sections of society. The most common procedure performed at SCs is cataract surgery. We audited the outcome of a random sample of 2,049 cataract surgeries done from October 2009-March 2010 at eight rural SCs. All patients received a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, both before and after surgery. The World Health Organization recommended cataract surgical record was used for data entry. Visual outcomes were measured at discharge, 1–3 weeks and 4–11 weeks follow up visits. Poor outcome was defined as best corrected visual acuity <6/18.

Results

Mean age was 61.8 years (SD: 8.9 years) and 1,133 (55.3%) surgeries were performed on female patients. Pre-existing ocular co-morbidity was present in 165 patients (8.1%). The most common procedure was small incision cataract surgery (SICS) with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation (91.8%). Intraoperative complications were seen in 29 eyes (1.4%). At the 4–11 weeks follow-up visit, based on presenting visual acuity (PVA), 61.8% had a good outcome and based on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), 91.7% had a good outcome. Based on PVA and BCVA, those with less than 6/60 were only 2.9% and 1.6% respectively. Using multivariable analysis, poor visual outcomes were significantly higher in patients aged ≥70 (OR 4.63; 95% CI 1.61, 13.30), in females (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.04, 2.41), those with preoperative comorbidities (odds ratio 4.68; 95% CI 2.90, 7.57), with intraoperative complications (OR 8.01; 95% CI 2.91, 22.04), eyes that underwent no IOL or anterior chamber-IOL (OR 12.63; 95% CI 2.65, 60.25) and those undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction (OR 9.39; 95% CI 1.18, 74.78).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that quality cataract surgeries can be achieved at rural SCs. The concept of the LVPEI SCs can be applied to other developing countries, allowing rural patients to attain better vision through cataract surgery. Despite improvements in quality of cataract surgery, gender discrimination in terms of outcome continues to be an issue and needs further investigation.     

Variation in prices charged to patients for specialty intraocular lenses inserted during universally covered cataract surgery

Background

Patients often pay for specialty intraocular lenses (IOLs) for cataract surgery covered by universal insurance. This practice creates the potential for inequitable pricing where the medical service provider is also the retailer. We measured the variation in prices between cataract surgeons for the same IOL and associated testing.

Methods

We telephoned every cataract surgeon in Ontario, Canada, and asked their price for the most common type of specialty IOL as a prospective patient. We measured the total prices quoted and variation between providers.

Results

We contacted 404 ophthalmologists. There were 256 that performed cataract surgery but 127 offered the most commonly employed specialty IOL and would provide a price to patients over the telephone. We obtained prices from all 127 ophthalmologists. Prices for the same lens and associated testing varied substantially between ophthalmologists from $358 to $2790 (median $615, interquartile range $528–$915). There was variation in all components of the total out-of-pocket price, including the price for the IOL itself, charges for uninsured eye measurements, and non-specific supplemental fees.

Conclusion

Although cataract surgery is covered by public health insurance, some ophthalmologists charge much more than others for the same specialty IOL and associated testing. Greater access to price information and better regulatory control could help ensure patients receive fair value for out-of-pocket health expenses.     

透明角膜切口白内障术后角膜曲率的临床观察*

目的:观察年龄相关性白内障行透明角膜切口超声乳化吸除及人工晶体植入术后角膜曲率的变化及相对稳定的时间。方法:收集2016年6月-8月在哈尔滨医科大学附属第一医院伍连德纪念医院进行的3.0 mm透明角膜切口白内障超声乳化吸除及人工晶体植入术的患者200例216眼,其中男88例、女128例,平均年龄71.2岁,进行相应的术前检查,并检查术前、术后第一天、一周、一个月、和三个月时的角膜曲率、视力、眼压并行相应的统计学分析。结果:术后不同时间点视力0.5的恢复情况:第一天为147眼(68.05%)、一周为175眼(81.02%)、一个月为193眼(89.35%)、三个月为197眼(91.20%);术前角膜曲率为43.94±1.35、术后第一天、术后一周的角膜曲率分别为44.98±1.06、44.45±1.18,与术前相比有显著性差异(p0.05),术后一个月、三个月的角膜曲率分别为44.13±1.27、44.02±1.24,与术前相比无显著性差异(p0.05);术源性散光于术后一天达到最大,随后逐渐减小,术后一个月、三个月与术后一天比较有显著性差异(p0.05),术后三个月与一个月比较无显著性差异(p0.05),术源性散光术后逐渐下降,并于一个月时趋于稳定。结论:3.0 mm透明角膜切口白内障超声乳化吸除及人工晶体植入术患者在术后一个月的角膜曲率基本稳定,恢复至术前状态,屈光状态趋于稳定,术源性角膜散光较小,术后视力恢复至较好状态。     

Ocular Hypertension after Pediatric Cataract Surgery: Baseline Characteristics and First-Year Report

Monitoring intraocular pressure (IOP) is essential for pediatric cataract treatment but always difficult due to lack of cooperation in young children. We present the baseline characteristics and the first-year results of a long-term prospective cohort study, which are aimed to determine the relationship of the incidence of ocular hypertension (OH) in children after cataract surgery during the first-year period and the risk of developing late-onset glaucoma. Children were included with the following criteria: they were≤10 years old and scheduled to undergo cataract surgery with/without intraocular lens implantation; they were compliant with our follow-up protocol, which included monitoring IOP using a Tono-Pen under sedation or anesthesia. Incidence of OH, peak OH value, OH onset time and OH duration within a 12-month period following surgery were measured. In brief, 206 patients (379 eyes) were included and OH developed in 66 of 379 (17.4%) eyes. The mean follow-up period was 14.0±3.2 months (median, 12 months; range, 10–16 months). Moreover, 33 of 196 (16.8%) aphakic eyes and 33 of 183 (18.0%) IOL eyes were diagnosed with OH. The peak OH onset times were at 1-week (34/66, 51.5%) and 1-month (14/66, 21.2%) appointments postsurgery. The peak IOP value in the OH eyes was 29.9±7.5 mmHg (median, 29 mmHg; range, 21–48 mmHg). The duration of OH was 30.9±31.2 days (median, 30 days; range, 3–150 days). OH recurred in 13 eyes with a history of OH diagnosed within 1 month postsurgery (13/54, 24.1%), which needed temporary or long term use of antiglaucoma medications. In conclusion, the incidence of OH in children after cataract surgery was 17.4% during the first-year period. Children who have suffered elevated IOP in the first year after cataract surgery should be followed closely to determine if there is an increased risk of developing late-onset glaucoma.     

The impact of successful cataract surgery on quality of life, household income and social status in South India

Background

To explore the hypothesis that sight restoring cataract surgery provided to impoverished rural communities will improve not only visual acuity and vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) but also poverty and social status.

Methods

Participants were recruited at outreach camps in Tamil Nadu, South India, and underwent free routine manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) with intra-ocular lens (IOL) implantation, and were followed up one year later. Poverty was measured as monthly household income, being engaged in income generating activities and number of working household members. Social status was measured as rates of re-marriage amongst widowed participants. VRQoL was measured using the IND-VFQ-33. Associations were explored using logistic regression (SPSS 19).

Results

Of the 294 participants, mean age ± standard deviation (SD) 60±8 years, 54% men, only 11% remained vision impaired at follow up (67% at baseline; p<0.001). At one year, more participants were engaged in income generating activities (44.7% to 77.7%; p<0.001) and the proportion of households with a monthly income <1000 Rps. decreased from 50.5% to 20.5% (p<0.05). Overall VRQoL improved (p<0.001). Participants who had successful cataract surgery were less likely to remain in the lower categories of monthly household income (OR 0.05–0.22; p<0.02) and more likely to be engaged in income earning activities one year after surgery (OR 3.28; p = 0.006). Participants widowed at baseline who had successful cataract surgery were less likely to remain widowed at one year (OR 0.02; p = 0.008).

Conclusion

These findings indicate the broad positive impact of sight restoring cataract surgery on the recipients’ as well as their families’ lives. Providing free high quality cataract surgery to marginalized rural communities will not only alleviate avoidable blindness but also - to some extent - poverty in the long run.     

Phacoemulsification and silicone oil removal through the planned posterior capsulorhexis

The purpose of the study was to present operative technique and results of a passive hydrodynamic expression of silicone oil through planned posterior capsulorhexis during cataract surgery in patients after pars plana vitrectomy. The retrospective analysis was done on 57 eyes with cataract after a previous pars plana vitrectomy, operated on between 2001 and 2004 at the Clinical hospital "Sestre milosrdnice" Zagreb. Preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), and postoperative complications were reviewed. Visual acuity improved or stabilized in all patients with an attached retina. Retinal detachment occurred in 11 eyes. Transient vitreous hemorrhage, that resolved within 1 week of surgery without treatment, was observed in 4 eyes. Asymptomatic intraocular lens (IOL) decentration occurred in 2 eyes. Our findings suggest that silicone oil removal and cataract surgery can be performed as a single procedure in selected patients in the absence of macular pucker and retinal reproliferation, and in a presence of a stable retina.     

Leading Indicators and the Evaluation of the Performance of Alerts for Influenza Epidemics

Background

Most evaluations of epidemic thresholds for influenza have been limited to internal criteria of the indicator variable. We aimed to initiate discussion on appropriate methods for evaluation and the value of cross-validation in assessing the performance of a candidate indicator for influenza activity.

Methods

Hospital records of in-patients with a diagnosis of confirmed influenza were extracted from the Canadian Discharge Abstract Database from 2003 to 2011 and aggregated to weekly and regional levels, yielding 7 seasons and 4 regions for evaluation (excluding the 2009 pandemic period). An alert created from the weekly time-series of influenza positive laboratory tests (FluWatch, Public Health Agency of Canada) was evaluated against influenza-confirmed hospitalizations on 5 criteria: lead/lag timing; proportion of influenza hospitalizations covered by the alert period; average length of the influenza alert period; continuity of the alert period and length of the pre-peak alert period.

Results

Influenza hospitalizations led laboratory positive tests an average of only 1.6 (95% CI: -1.5, 4.7) days. However, the difference in timing exceeded 1 week and was statistically significant at the significance level of 0.01 in 5 out of 28 regional seasons. An alert based primarily on 5% positivity and 15 positive tests produced an average alert period of 16.6 weeks. After allowing for a reporting delay of 2 weeks, the alert period included 80% of all influenza-confirmed hospitalizations. For 20 out of the 28 (71%) seasons, the first alert would have been signalled at least 3 weeks (in real time) prior to the week with maximum number of influenza hospitalizations.

Conclusions

Virological data collected from laboratories was a good indicator of influenza activity with the resulting alert covering most influenza hospitalizations and providing a reasonable pre-peak warning at the regional level. Though differences in timing were statistically significant, neither time-series consistently led the other.     

The advancing timberline on Mt. Fuji: natural recovery or climate change?

The alpine timberline on Mt. Fuji (central Japan) is at 2,400-2,500 m above sea level. Over a 21-year period (1978-1999), we tracked changes in this vegetation boundary on a transect at a site impacted by the 1707 volcanic eruption. The timberline advanced rapidly upwards during this time period. Dominant tree species at the timberline (Alnus maximowiczii, Salix reinii, and Larix kaempferi) colonized sites that were initially largely free of vegetation at higher altitudes. Seedlings of L. kaempferi were particularly abundant at the border of advancing vegetation. According to tree age, we found that this was the first canopy species in the colonized areas. L. kaempferi is drought resistant, and this probably contributes to its establishment capability in the high-altitude climate. Most seedlings of Abies veitchii invaded patches of herbs and shrubs. These vegetation patches in the upper kampfzone provide important shelter for seedlings of invading tree species. We predict that the upward advance of the alpine timberline is a recovery process following the volcanic eruption, and that climate change may accelerate this advance.     

Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Patients in Swiss Managed Care Plans: Prevalence,Determinants and Association with Hospitalization

Objectives

To describe the prevalence and determinants of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use and association with hospitalizations in an elderly managed care population in Switzerland.

Methods

Using health care claims data of four health insurers for a sample of managed care patients 65 years of age and older to compare persons on PIM with persons not on PIM. Beers'' 2012 and PRISCUS criteria were used to determine the potential inappropriateness of prescribed medications. The sample included 16′490 elderly patients on PIM and 33′178 patients not on PIM in the time period of January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012. Prevalence estimates are standardized to the population of Switzerland. Associations between PIM and hospitalizations were examined by multivariate Cox regression analyses controlling for possible confounding variables.

Results

The estimated prevalence of PIM use in our managed care sample was 22.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed that number of different medications used in the previous year, total costs in the previous year and hospitalization in the previous year all significantly increased the likelihood of receiving PIM. Multiple Cox regression analysis revealed that those on cumulative levels of PIM use acted significantly as a factor related to greater hospitalization rates: the adjusted HR was 1.13 (95% CI 1.07–1.19) for 1 PIM, 1.27 (95% CI 1.19–1.35) for 2 PIM, 1.35 (95% CI 1.22–1.50) for 3 PIM, and 1.63 (95% CI 1.40–1.90) for more than 3 PIM compared to no PIM use.

Conclusions

The prevalence of PIM in managed care health plans are widely found but seem to be much lower than rates of non-managed care plans. Furthermore, our study revealed a significant association with adverse outcomes in terms of hospitalizations. These findings stress the need for further development of interventions to decrease drug-related problems and manage patients with multiple chronic conditions.     

Hospitalization after Cataract Surgery in a Nationwide Managed-Care Population

Purpose

Little is known regarding the extent by which patients undergoing outpatient cataract surgery are at risk for postoperative hospitalization. We sought to determine the percentage of patients undergoing cataract surgery who were subsequently hospitalized, the patient characteristics associated with postoperative hospitalization, and the reasons for hospitalization.

Methods

We identified all beneficiaries of a large U.S. managed care network age ≥40 years old who underwent ≥1 cataract surgery from 2001–2011. All enrollees who required inpatient hospitalization within 7, 14, 30, and 90 days following initial cataract surgery and the reasons for hospitalization were determined. Logistic regression was performed to assess factors that significantly impacted the odds of requiring postoperative hospitalization.

Results

Among the 64,981 patients who underwent cataract surgery, rates of hospitalization within 7, 14, 30, and 90 days were 0.3%, 0.5%, 1.3% and 4.2%, respectively. Among the 10,674 patients who had no major preexisting medical comorbidities, 0.1% were hospitalized within 7 days. The odds of hospitalization increased by 35% (OR = 1.35 [CI, 1.23–1.48]) with the presence of each additional comorbidity and by 14% with each additional hospitalization in the 3 years prior to cataract surgery (OR = 1.14 [CI, 1.10–1,18]). Those who were hospitalized in the 30 days prior to cataract surgery had 524% increased odds of being hospitalized within 7 days after cataract surgery (OR = 6.24, [CI, 3.37–11.57]) compared to those with no record of preoperative hospitalization. Postoperative hospitalizations were most commonly due to cardiovascular conditions, comprising over 25% of primary diagnoses associated with hospitalization.

Conclusions

The risk of hospitalization after cataract surgery is low, and is very low among those with no major preexisting medical comorbidities. Opportunities may exist to limit comprehensive preoperative evaluation and testing to those who have serious pre-existing medical comorbidities.     

折叠式人工晶状体临床应用观察

目的:探讨白内障超声乳化摘除联合折叠式人工晶状体植入术的临床应用效果。方法:对109例(147只眼)白内障行超声乳化吸除术联合折叠式人工晶状体植入术,分别植入人工晶状体CANON STAARAQ-110NV型53眼、AMO S140NB型43眼、Pharmacia Ceeon 911型32眼、Alcon Acrysof型20眼。对术后视力、术前术后角膜散光、术后前房反应、人工晶状体位置、手术并发症进行观察。结果:术后6个月。矫正视力≥0.5眼数分别为94.3％、93.0％、90.6％、90.0％;术后6个月,AQ-110NV型和S140NB型、CeeOn 911型和Alcon Actysof型间角膜平均散光度数无显著差异,AQ-110NV型和S140NB型与Ceeon 911型和Alcon Acrysof型有显著差异(P<0.05);术后前房反应轻微;角膜水肿、后囊破裂、后囊混浊、人工晶状体破损,发生率分别为6.1％、4.1％、10.9％、3.9％;未发现人工晶体状体明显移位者。结论:各种材料的折叠式人工晶状体在临床上的应用都是有效的,推注式人工晶状体(AQ-110NV、S140NB型)植入术无须扩大切口,容易掌握,术后反应轻,并发症少,手术疗效满意。     

Lipoplasty claims experience of U.S. insurance companies

An analysis of medical liability claims for lipoplasty (liposuction) from January of 1985 through June of 1998 compared the insurance industry experience of plastic surgeons with that of other physicians. The Data Sharing Project database of the Physician Insurers Association of America, a trade association of professional liability companies owned and operated by medical professionals that collectively insure approximately 60 percent of America's private practice physicians, was queried. Of the nearly 45,000 total entries in the database, 292 were claims for adverse events related to lipoplasty or liposuction. These raw data were stratified by physician specialty, severity of complication, practice location, patient gender, indemnity payment, and other insurance industry-relevant variables.To simplify interspecialty comparisons, we normalized the claims rate to incidents per 100 insured physicians. The indexed lipoplasty claims rate was 3.0 per 100 insured plastic surgeons and 4.1 for other surgeons; the indexed lipoplasty claims rate for nonsurgical specialists was 2.5 per 100 insured dermatologists and 2.3 for other nonsurgeons. The higher claims rate for surgeons most likely reflects the wider scope of full-service aesthetic surgery performed by surgical specialists. Nearly two-thirds of claims (65.4 percent) during the 13-year survey period were the result of hospital-based lipoplasty; 20.9 percent were office-based claims. The prevalence of hospital-based claims may be a consequence of both historical bias introduced by hospital-based specialty surgery in the early years and prudent patient safety considerations during performance of complex or prolonged procedures in more recent years.Two-thirds of the claims (67 percent) arose from informed-consent or breach-of-contract issues, far higher than the 26 percent aggregate claims norm. The mean indemnity payment was $94,534 per lipoplasty claim; claims paid against board-certified specialists averaged $83,350. Consistent with national lipoplasty demographics, 87 percent of claims were brought by women and 13 percent were brought by men. Seven fatalities (three women and four men) were noted; cause of death is not recorded in this type of database.     

Postoperative cataract cases among atomic bomb survivors: radiation dose response and threshold

Recent evidence argues against a high threshold dose for vision-impairing radiation-induced cataractogenesis. We conducted logistic regression analysis to estimate the dose response and used a likelihood profile procedure to determine the best-fitting threshold model among 3761 A-bomb survivors who underwent medical examinations during 2000-2002 for whom radiation dose estimates were available, including 479 postoperative cataract cases. The analyses indicated a statistically significant dose-response increase in the prevalence of postoperative cataracts [odds ratio (OR), 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24-1.55] at 1 Gy, with no indication of upward curvature in the dose response. The dose response was suggestive when the restricted dose range of 0 to 1 Gy was examined. A nonsignificant dose threshold of 0.1 Gy (95% CI, <0-0.8) was found. The prevalence of postoperative cataracts in A-bomb survivors increased significantly with A-bomb radiation dose. The estimate (0.1 Gy) and upper bound (0.8 Gy) of the dose threshold for operative cataract prevalence was much lower than the threshold of 2-5 Gy usually assumed by the radiation protection community and was statistically compatible with no threshold at all.     

Prevalence and Outcomes of Cataract Surgery in Adult Rural Chinese Populations of the Bai Nationality in Dali: The Yunnan Minority Eye Study

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence and visual acuity (VA) outcomes of cataract surgery in adults of the Bai Nationality populations in rural China.

Methods

We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey (from randomly selected block groups) of Chinese Bai Nationality aged ≥50 years in southwestern China. Presenting visual acuity (PVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded and a detailed eye examination was carried out. For all aphakic and pseudophakic subjects identified, information on the date, setting, type, and complications of cataract surgery were recorded. In eyes with VA <20/63, the principal cause of visual impairment was identified.

Results

Of 2133 (77.8% of 2742) subjects, 99 people (129 eyes) had undergone cataract surgery. The prevalence of cataract surgery was 4.6%. Surgical coverage among those with PVA <20/200 in both eyes because of cataract was 52.8%. Unoperated cataract was associated with older age. The main barrier to cataract surgery was lack of awareness and knowledge, cost, and fear. Among the 129 cataract-operated eyes, 22.5% had PVA of ≥20/32, 25.6% had PVA of 20/40 to 20/63, 23.3% had PVA <20/63 to 20/200, and 28.7% had PVA<20/200. With BCVA, the percentages were 42.6%, 23.3%, 10.9%, and 23.3%, respectively. Aphakia (odds ratio [OR], 8.49; P<0.001) and no education (OR, 10.18; P = 0.001) or less education (OR, 6.49; P = 0.014) were significantly associated with postoperative visual impairment defined by PVA, while aphakia (OR, 8.49; P<0.001) and female gender (OR, 4.19; P = 0.004) were significantly associated with postoperative visual impairment by BCVA. The main causes of postoperative visual impairment were refractive error, retinal disorders and glaucoma.

Conclusions

Half of those with bilateral visual impairment or blindness because of cataract remain in need of cataract surgery in Bai population. Surgical uptake and visual outcomes should be further improved in the future.     

Complications after primary and secondary transsclerally sutured posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation

This retrospective study analyses and compares early complications during the first month after primary and secondary posterior chamber implantation of transsclerally sutured IOL. The analysis covered medical records of 65 patients who underwent posterior chamber implantation of transsclerally sutured IOL at the Eye Clinic in Rijeka between 1998 and 2003. In 30 patients (group 1) lenses were implanted in one eye during complicated cataract surgery (primary implantation), whereas 35 patients (group 2) had lenses implanted afterwards (secondary implantation). There were 77 early complications, equally represented in both groups, i.e. 40 in (51.9%) the first and 37 (48.1%) in the second group. The most frequent complications were: vitreous hemorrhages 24.7% (14.3% and 10.4%), cystoid macular edema 19.5% (9.1% and 10.4%), keratopathy 14.3% (6.5% and 7.8%), pupil distortion 11.7% (9.1% and 2.6%), IOL decentration and tilt 10.4% (6.5% and 3.9%), high intraocular pressure 9.1% (2.6% and 6.5%), inflammation 6.5% (2.5% and 3.9%). Retinal and choroidal detachment had low incidence: 2.6% (1.3% and 1.3%) and 1.3% (0% and 1.3%) respectively. As concerns early complications, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups, except for pupil distortion, which was more frequent in primary IOL implantation (p = 0.045). After primary implantation of IOL, the average visual acuity was 0.38 +/- 0.27, whereas after secondary implantation visual acuity was 0.52 +/- 0.21. The difference was not statistically significant.