Characteristics of Cataract in Bali's Rural Areas

Dini Dharmawidiarini

The John Fawcett Foundation, Bali, Indonesia

Purpose: To reveal characteristics of cataract in the adult population on a Bali's rural area in Indonesia. Methods: A descriptive study, between January 2009-December 2009. Surgery was done in mobile eye clinic and funding from The John Fawcett Foundation. Examinations before surgery were best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), anterior segment, intraocular pressure(IOP) and intraocular lens power (IOL) calculation. All cases performed by manual small incision cataract surgery(MSICS) under retrobulbair anesthesia. Examination one day after surgery were visual acuity, anterior segment and IOP if necessary.

Result : Total patients 1165, 54,2% females and 45,8% males.Age between 17-90 years old, mean age 65. Type of cataracts were immature 46,6%, mature 43,3%, hypermature 4%, traumatic 4,2%, juvenile 1% and complicated cataract 6,9%. Patient with both eyes mature 6,6% and hypermature 8%. BCVA before surgery were light perception 14,2%, hand motion 35,4%, 1m – 3m counting finger 49,4%. Visual out come were > 20/70 59,1%, 20/60 – 20/200 20, 8%, < 20/200 18,5%. Cases with pseudoexfoliation 3,4%, subluxated lens 1,5% and synechiae 12,4%. IOL implantation were posterior 93,4%, anterior 6,1% and without IOL 5%. Cases with low visual outcome reveal corneal edema 1% and posterior segment disorders 5,9%. There was no sign of infection found.

Conclusion: Cataract in Bali's rural areas are characterized by a high number of immature and mature. Both almost in the same rate number. MSICS in mobile eye clinic was beneficial to eradicate cataract blindness in outreach area.