A CHANGE IN INDICATIONS FOR CATARACT SURGERY? A 10 YEAR COMPARATIVE EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY

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Abstract
A change in the indications for cataract surgery might be one of the many reasons for the steady increasing number of cataract extractions. A comparison between the indications for surgery in cataract patients from 1970 and a similar group from 1980 was done. In bilateral cataracts, evaluated on basis of visual acuity in both eyes, no widening of the indications for cataract surgery could be found. In monaphakics, awaiting operation on the 2nd eye, visual acuity in both eyes revealed no change, but more 2nd eye cataracts are removed now, 41% against 25% in 1970, which means that monaphakia is considered a stronger indication for surgery in the 2nd eye than it was 10 yr ago. Acknowledgement of the difficulties of being monaphakic, refinements of extraction techniques and increased requirements for better vision among the elderly population might explain this altered attitude towards monaphakia.