There is clearly an unmet need for timely, equitable access to cataract surgery in Australia
Vision problems and falls are common in older people, particularly those living in disadvantaged circumstances, and many people often experience both problems.1 In this issue of the MJA, Keay and colleagues2 report findings from the FOCUS study, which aimed to assess the impact of cataract surgery on the incidence of falls in older people. Their longitudinal study, which included a total of 409 participants, assessed the incidence of falls before and after first and second eye cataract surgery in people aged 65 years or more, a group at particular risk of falls. For the 118 people who underwent second eye surgery and participated in all follow‐ups, the authors found a large reduction in age‐ and sex‐adjusted fall incidence following second eye, but not first eye, cataract surgery.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Elliott DB. The Glenn A. Fry award lecture 2013: blurred vision, spectacle correction, and falls in older adults. Optom Vis Sci 2014; 91: 593‐601.
- 2. Keay L, Ho KC, Rogers K, et al. The incidence of falls after first and second eye cataract surgery: a longitudinal cohort study. Med J Aust 2022; 217: 94‐99.
- 3. Haran MJ, Cameron ID, Ivers RQ, et al. Effect on falls of providing single lens distance vision glasses to multifocal glasses wearers: VISIBLE randomised controlled trial. Br Med J 2010; 340: c2265.
- 4. Harwood RH, Foss AJE, Osborn F, et al. Falls and health status in elderly women following first eye cataract surgery: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Ophthalmol 2005; 89: 53‐59.
- 5. Foss AJE, Harwood RH, Osborn F, et al. Falls and health status in elderly women following second eye cataract surgery: a randomised controlled trial. Age Ageing 2006; 35: 66‐71.
- 6. Laidlaw DA, Harrad RA, Hooper CD, et al. Randomised trial of effectiveness of second eye cataract surgery. Lancet 1998; 352: 925‐929.
- 7. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Cataracts in adults: management (NG77). 26 Oct 2017. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng77 (viewed June 2022).
- 8. Datta S, Foss AJE, Grainge MJ, et al. The importance of acuity, stereopsis, and contrast sensitivity for health‐related quality of life in elderly women with cataracts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2008; 49: 1‐6.
- 9. National Health Service (UK). Guide to NHS waiting times in England. Updated 2 Dec 2019. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs‐services/hospitals/guide‐to‐nhs‐waiting‐times‐in‐england (viewed June 2022).
- 10. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Cataract clinical care standard. Aug 2021. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our‐work/clinical‐care‐standards/cataract‐clinical‐care‐standard (viewed June 2022).
- 11. National Ophthalmology Database (UK). Year 6 annual report: the fifth prospective report of the National Ophthalmology Database Audit. NHS or equivalent funded cataract surgery for the 2020 NHS year: 01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. 2022. https://www.nodaudit.org.uk/u/docs/20/vkhnzxuurg/NOD%20Audit%20Full%20Annual%20Report%202022.pdf (viewed June 2022).
- 12. Palagyi A, McCluskey P, White A, et al. While we waited: incidence and predictors of falls in older adults with cataract. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2016; 57: 6003‐6010.
I hold a grant from Innovate UK for the development of an app for people with macular degeneration.