PCL 10 Incidence and prevalence

Incidence and Prevalence

Worldwide
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worlwide
-in 1998, an estimated 20 million people were blind due to cataract
-globally, at least 100 million eyes have visual acuity <6/60>
-annually, at least 25 million eyes develop visual acuity <6/60>

Malaysia

Diabetes
2006 – 10.3% of Malaysian population
Orang asli 0.3%

National Eye survey 1996
18,027 people
age ranges from 1 month to 96 years
mean age 26 years old

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness, with 39% of blindness and 36% of low vision were due to cataract

Prevalence of cataract in Malaysia 2.58%
Women 2.69%
Men 2.46%
-An exponential increase of cataract after 40 years of age
-The age group with the highest prevalence of cataract was the 70 years and above age group with a prevalence of 54.55%.

Based on races
Indian 3.63%
Other indigenous group 2.79%
Chinese 2.69%
Malay 2.29%

Urban areas had lower prevalence (2.48%) compared to rural areas (2.66%)
States
Melaka 5.31%
Kuala Lumpur 3.37%
Sabah 3.32%

Barriers to cataract surgery by Indigenous People
-Waiting lists: Long allocation and influx of oncoming patients.
-Cost: Public hospital provides free surgery, But other cost such as transportation, food and travel time is a loss.
-Distance and transport: uptake of cataract surgery is lower in rural and remote areas than in urban areas. Our public healthcare doesn’t pay for transport expenses.
-Communication: Language Difference
-Family influence: fear of surgery may be a barrier towards cataract sufferers. It may also well depend on the dominant member of the family to make the decision.
-Community influence: Some recurrence of the cataract after surgery may give the impression towards the community. Or seeing someone going blind after an unsuccessful surgery also adds to the fear.
-Culture and belief: Some may say that the disease is caused by supernatural means. They believe that God wants them to go blind.
“There is no need”: since cataracts grow slowly. People adapt and manage despite poor vision and literally to do not see the need for surgery.
-Fear: fear - of the operation, a poor outcome, that a real check-up will show a real problem and fear of death - is a significant barrier to surgery.

-Private Sector Cataract Surgery
Mid Valley ISEC Shd. Bhd. – One Eye RM3800
Sime Darby Medical Centre – One Eye RM4000>