Cataract surgery in Australia 1985-94

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cataract surgery is the most common form of major ophthalmic surgery in Australia and a common surgical procedure among the elderly. The purpose of this report is to compile the numbers and rates of cataract extractions and implant of IOLs over the period 1985-94 for Australia. METHODS: Data were obtained for public and private cataract extractions and IOL implants from state and territory ministries of health and from the Health Insurance Commission. The data relating to cataract surgery were compared with the growth in the proportion of elderly people in the population. RESULTS: The number of cataract extractions has increased by 2.6 times over the ten-year period to 67,459 in ..