{"id":162,"date":"2014-03-26T10:27:55","date_gmt":"2014-03-26T10:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.lshtm.ac.uk\/iceh-new\/?page_id=162"},"modified":"2025-01-20T17:01:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T17:01:33","slug":"cataract-impact-study","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.lshtm.ac.uk\/iceh-new\/cataract-impact-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Cataract impact study"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Cataract Impact Study\u00a0<\/h1>\n

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Assessing the benefits of cataract surgery in low-income countries<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although it is intuitive that people who receive cataract surgery would experience increased income and quality of life, this was one of the first studies to outline this in low-income areas.<\/p>\n

The Cataract Impact Study (2005-2008) was undertaken among people aged 50 years and above in three low-income countries: Kenya, Bangladesh and the Philippines.<\/p>\n

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of cataract surgery on:
a) household economy
b) daily activities and time-use
c) health related quality of life<\/p>\n

In total 704 persons with visual impairment from cataract (cases) and 682 persons without visual impairment (controls) participated in the study. All participants were interviewed at baseline and those with cataract were offered cataract surgery. One year later both cases and controls were traced and those found were re-interviewed.<\/p>\n

The findings showed at baseline:
1. Cases were poorer than controls with normal vision in terms of assets, self-rated wealth and
monthly expenditure;
2. Cases were less likely to take part in and spent less time on productive activities (paid work or
household activities) than controls;
3. Cases were more likely to report assistance from others with daily activities than controls;
4. Cases had worse health related quality of life than controls.<\/p>\n

At one year follow \u2013 up after cataract surgery:
1. Monthly expenditure among operated cases increased compared to baseline in each country;
2. Operated cases spent more time on productive activities and were less likely to have assistance
from others compared to baseline;
3. The health-related quality of life of operated cases improved compared to baseline and became
similar to the level experienced by controls.<\/p>\n

The study showed that provision of cataract surgery may contribute towards poverty alleviation, through increasing productive
activities of people with cataract and reducing their dependence on other household members for care, and surgery also substantially improves aspects of quality of life for individuals.<\/p>\n

Read the summary report of the Cataract impact study (PDF 1.7Mb)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cataract impact study: Six year follow up<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To explore whether the benefits of cataract surgery are sustained over time, we undertook a six year follow-up study in Bangladesh and the Philippines in 2012.<\/p>\n

By six years after cataract surgery, they were still enjoying the benefits
of cataract surgery and compared to baseline they:<\/p>\n

\u2022 had a better health-related quality of life and improved perceptions of their own health
\u2022 were more likely to be involved in productive activities such as farming, paid work and household
duties
\u2022 needed less assistance for daily activities and had improved general functioning<\/p>\n

There were also sustained economic benefits of cataract surgery for the family including an
increase in household expenditure within just one year of surgery and a longer term increase in asset
ownership.<\/p>\n

Additionally, six years after cataract surgery, these same indicators had improved to be on par with the
people who hadn\u2019t had vision impairment at the baseline. Many of the gaps in well-being and
economic situation between those with cataract and those without had been closed within one
year of restoring sight by cataract surgery and remained closed six years post surgery.<\/p>\n

Cataract impact study six-year follow up summary report (PDF 339Kb)<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cataract Impact Study\u00a0Assessing the benefits of cataract surgery in low-income countries Although it is intuitive that people who receive cataract surgery would experience increased income and quality of life, this was one of the first studies to outline this in low-income areas. The Cataract Impact Study (2005-2008) was undertaken among people aged 50 years and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\"Testing<\/a>\r\n\r\nCaption: Measuring visual acuity in the Philippines. Sarah Polack\/LSHTM\r\n\r\n \r\n

Assessing the benefits of cataract surgery in low-income countries<\/h2>\r\nThe aim of the original cataract impact study in 2006 was to explore the impact of cataract surgery on poverty, activities and health-related quality of life. It was carried out in 2005-2006 in Kenya, Bangladesh and the Philippines.\r\n\r\nAlthough it is assumed that people with visual impairment are likely to experience poorer quality of life, there was little evidence of this from low-income countries. The study aimed to address this gap in knowledge and the findings highlight key benefits of cataract surgery to a population of older adults in low-income countries after one year.\r\n\r\nRead the summary report of the Cataract impact study (PDF 1.7Mb)<\/a>\r\n

Cataract impact study: Six year follow up<\/h3>\r\nTo explore whether the benefits of cataract surgery are sustained over time, we undertook a six year follow-up study in Bangladesh and the Philippines in 2012.\r\n\r\nThis shows the long-term benefits of cataract surgery.\r\n\r\nCataract impact study six-year follow up summary report (PDF 339Kb)\r\n<\/a>Cataract impact study six-year follow up summary report (WORD 1.52Mb) <\/a>\r\n

Acknowledgements<\/h3>\r\nWe would like to sincerely thank:\r\n