PREVALENCES OF CATARACT SURGERY IN HUNGARY BETWEEN 1994–1997

JUDIT SZABÓ

József Fodor National Center for Public Health
Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, Budapest, Hungary
 
Corresponding author: Judit Szabó, M.D.
József Fodor National Center for Public Health
Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene
H-1775 Budapest, P. O. Box 101, Hungary
Tel./Fax: (+36) 1226-5331
E-mail:szj@hp.osski.hu


CEJOEM 1999, Vol.5. No.1.:35-42



Abbreviations:
ICCE = Intra Capsular Cataract Extraction
ECCE = Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction
phaco = Phacoemulsification
ACL = Anterior Chamber Lens
PCL = Posterior Chamber Lens
all combi = Sum of all ECCE+PCL, ECCE+ACL, Phaco+PCL, Phaco+ACL combinations


ABSTRACT: There are no exact statistical data on cataract extractions. Previous attempts to get a view of the national situation by a questionnaire survey, was neither entirely objective, nor full. Because of the depletion of the ozone layer and a suspected increase in ambient ultraviolet radiation in the future we found it due to get a real picture. Utilizing our experiences gained in cataract surgery data analysis of a clinic (the number of cataract extractions tripled at the 1st Ophthalmology Department of the Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary, between 1987–1997 we made an attempt to analyze the cataract extraction data by using the surgical code numbers provided for the National Information Center for Health Care (GYÓGYINFÓK, Szekszárd, Hungary) for financial (health insurance) purposes. Obligation for hospitals, having an agreement with the National Health Insurance Office (OEP, Hungary), to supply records for GYÓGYINFÓK became legally binding and the degree of reporting has reached 100% since 1994. More than 98% of all cataract surgeries are performed at state eye clinics (n=62) in Hungary.

Due to the lack of continuity in patient identification surgery on the second eye was regarded as an operation of a different patient. Two-thirds of the cataract surgeries were performed on females. The leading cataract surgical technique (above 80%) was ECCE + PCL between 1994–1997. The prevalence of cataract surgery increased steadily from 1.4/1,000 persons in 1994 to 2.4/1,000 persons in 1997. The prevalence of cataract surgeries increased further in 1997 only in females, compared to the previous year.

Although these results should be dealt with criticism and with the understanding that though the data were provided originally for financial purposes, they may present an alternative for the estimation of the national baselineof cataract surgery prevalence.

KEY WORDS: Cataract extraction, prevalence, ozone depletion, ambient ultraviolet radiation



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special acknowledgement is made to Lehel Kincses (GYÓGYINFÓK) for supplying the data, to prof. Ildikó Süveges, to Mária Bausz (1st Ophthalmol. Dept. of Semmelweis Univ. of Medicine, Budapest) for the helpful discussions. The research was financed by the Ministry of Welfare, Hungary (T-08 059/96 ETT).
Received: 04 December 1998
Accepted: 09 March 1999

Posted: December 1999

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