Prevalence and associated factors of visually impaired cataract of the better eye among adults aged 40 years and above in Mahara Medical Officer of Health Area, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Cataract is the main cause of visual impairment in the world, accounting for 51% of global blindness.

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Objectives: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of visually impaired cataract of the better eye among adults aged 40 years and above in Mahara Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Area in Sri Lanka

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Methods: This was a community-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in an MOH area during the period August-October 2009. The study population consisted of 602 adults aged 40 years and above selected using cluster sampling technique. Study instruments were interviewer-administered questionnaire and a record sheet. The presence of lens opacities following ophthalmoscope examination with visual acuity less than 6/18 in the better eye was considered as cataract. Multivariate logistic regression was applied for assessment of factors associated with cataract. Results were expressed as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

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Results: The overall prevalence of visually impaired cataract of the better eye was 14.6% (95% CI=11.78, 17.42). It was 35.1% (95% CI=28.3, 41.86) among the age group of 60 years and above and 15% (95% CI=11.28, 18.72) among females and 14.4% (95% CI=9.77, 18.43) among males. After controlling confounding factors, age 60 years and above (aOR=4.72; 95% CI=3.18, 7.01), lower level of education (aOR=2.01; 95% CI=1.39, 2.89) and duration of diabetes mellitus of more than six years (aOR=2.13; 95% CI=1.11, 4.07) were found to be the associated factors.

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Conclusions: The burden due to prevalence of visually impaired cataract in the better eye was considered serious as it will affect the quality of life. Being elderly, lower education and longer duration of diabetes mellitus were associated with visually impaired cataract