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. 1998;11(25):3-6.

CATARACT SURGICAL COVERAGE: An indicator to measure the impact of cataract intervention programmes

H Limburg  1 , A Foster
Affiliations

CATARACT SURGICAL COVERAGE: An indicator to measure the impact of cataract intervention programmes

H Limburg et al. Community Eye Health. 1998.

Abstract

Aim: To describe Cataract Surgical Coverage (CSC) as an indicator to measure the impact of cataract intervention programmes.

Methods and materials: Cataract Surgical Coverage, both for 'eyes' as well as 'persons', was calculated from community based surveys conducted in 19 rural districts in the south-west and one urban district in the north-west of India.

Results: Cataract Surgical Coverage (VA<3/60) ranged from 42% to 68% (for persons) and from 22% to 45% (for eyes) in 19 districts of Karnataka State. The coverage for males was higher than for females. In Ahmedabad the coverage was high with 93% for persons and 83%for eyes.

Discussion: Together with prevalence data, Cataract Surgical Coverage can provide important information on the impact of cataract intervention programmes. Regular assessment of prevalence and coverage indicators through focused community surveys will reveal trends. Coverage indicators are also important as input data for mathematical models to predict future trends in cataract blindness.

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Figures

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Advanced cataract, left eye, in Sri Lanka Photo:Victoria Sheffield
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Before cataract surgery in Somalia Photo: Murray McGavin
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After eye camp cataract surgery in India Photo: Murray McGavin
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Eye camp surgery in India: post-operative inpatients Photo: Murray McGavin
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See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Central Ophthalmic Cell, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India: Annual Results Cataract Performance
    1. The Epidemiology of Blindness in Nepal - Report of the 1981 Nepal Blindness Survey. The Seva Foundation. 1988
    1. Foster A. A simple method for evaluating surgical cataract services in prevention of blindness programmes. J Comm Eye Health. 1992;10:2–5.
    1. Limburg H, Kumar R, Indrayan A, Sundaram KR. Rapid Assessment of Prevalence of Cataract Blindness at District Level. Int J Epidemiol. 1997;26:1049–54. - PubMed
    1. Limburg H, Kumar R. Follow-up study of blindness attributed to cataract in Karnataka state of India – results from district level rapid assessments (submitted for publication) - PubMed

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