A study to assess the barriers for cataract surgery uptake among elderly population of Aligarh

Abstract

Background: As cataract being one of the commonest cause of avoidable blindness in India, the study of the barriers that delay the surgical uptake becomes important. This study been done to report the barriers delaying the surgical management and socio-demographic association of delay period. Methods: This study was part of community based cross-sectional study carried out among elderly population residing at field practice area of Rural Health Training Centre and Urban Health Training Centre, JN Medical College, AMU, Aligarh. A sample of 550 was taken from the registered elderly population aged 60 years and above using systematic random sampling with PPS. Barriers for 1st eye surgery were reported among 277 un-operated elderly and for the 2nd eye surgery among those 65 elderly who had operable cataract (defined as cataract in both eyes with low vision affecting daily activities) in one eye with aphaki/pseudophakia in the other. Factors contributing for the delay in uptake of surgery were assessed among operated individuals only (120). Results: Major barriers reported in the study were lack of awareness (33.2%), not able to afford treatment (25.3%), waiting for the cataract to get mature (19.9%). For second eye surgery major barriers reported were, waiting period for maturation (36.9%) followed by corrected vision in the other eye (24.6%) and non-affordability (23%). Significant association of the delay period reported with area, age, sex, education and SLI. Conclusions: Lack of awareness, non-affordability, waiting for the cataract to get, corrected vision in the other eye were the major factors delaying cataract surgery among elderly.