Prevalence and Factors Associated With Second Eye Cataract Surgery and the Trend in the Time Interval Between the Two Eye Surgeries Based on the Malaysian National Eye Database

PURPOSE: To study the prevalence of second eye cataract surgery (SECS), trend in time interval between subsequent surgeries over the years, and factors associated with SECS utilization among patients who underwent cataract surgeries in the Ministry of Health (MOH), Malaysia.

DESIGN: Secondary cross-sectional analysis of the Malaysian National Eye Database (NED) data.

METHODS: The Malaysian Cataract Surgery Registry collected data on patients who had cataract surgery from 2002-2004 and 2007-2012. Data collected included demography, operative events, time interval between 2 surgeries, and postoperative visual outcomes. Descriptive analysis was performed.

RESULTS: Total surgeries increased from 11,954 in 2002 to 30,265 in 2012 with a proportionate increase in SECS (30.7% in 2002 to 34.3% in 2012). Poor vision (<6/12) was reduced from 81.1% to 14.2% after surgery. With improved data capturing, missing data reduced from 29.22% to 1.05%. The time interval between surgeries was 10.58 months in 2002 and 14.49 months in 2012. Malays (40.2%) and those aged 61-70 years (38.1%) had the highest number of SECS. Those aged 40-50 years (10.96 months) and with poorer vision (9.97 months) had the shortest time interval between the 2 surgeries. The commonest surgical method was phacoemulsification (72.3%). Negeri Sembilan State had the highest SECS rate (35.91%) and Melaka had the shortest interval between surgeries (10.15 months).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increase in the number of SECS, the time interval is still long. Poor presenting second eye vision and disparity among different states warrants the health authority's attention and intervention.