Cataract surgery in Hauora Tairāwhiti and need for improving access for Māori

Cataract surgery in Australia: a review of the regional literature and outcomes from 5018 cases at a tertiary teaching hospital

OBJECTIVES

To report visual and surgical outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery from 5018 consecutive cases from Sydney, Australia. A review of the Australian and New Zealand literature was undertaken to provide a benchmark of outcomes from the region.

METHODS

The electronic medical record system was used to review three time-points for all phacoemulsification cataract surgeries at a tertiary-referral centre between May 2017 and August 2020: preoperative, intraoperative and one month postoperatively. Variables collected included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and pinhole visual acuity, surgeon seniority and ocular pathology.

RESULTS

Of the 5018 eyes, 37.3% were operated on by consultants, 47.1% by trainees and 15.6% by fellows. Ocular pathology was seen in 48.9% of eyes (n=1709). The mean preoperative and one month postoperative UDVA was 6/48 and 6/12, respectively. There was an intraoperative complication in 7.6% of eyes (n=379) and posterior capsular rupture (PCR) occurred in 2.7% (n=136). PCR rates between consultants (3.1%, n=56), trainees (2.6%, n=61) and fellows (2.1%, n=16) showed no statistically significant difference (p≥0.355). The key risk factors for PCR were advanced cataract, alpha-antagonist use, small pupil size and the presence of glaucoma.

CONCLUSION

We present visual and surgical outcomes from the largest study on phacoemulsification cataract surgery in Australia and New Zealand, acknowledging the study's retrospective nature preventing inter-eye correlations, subdivision of cataract subspecialist versus not and trainee rank, and the minority of missing data. Our findings were comparable to regional and international benchmarks despite a high rate of ocular pathology and trainee case load. The lack of a regional cataract surgery registry represents a critical need in assessing and claiming key performance indicators, capturing emerging trends and identifying region-specific risk factors to deliver the best patient outcomes.

Te hauora karu o te iwi Māori: A comprehensive review of Māori eye health in Aotearoa/New Zealand

This article provides a summary of available data on Māori ocular health, highlighting significant disparities between Māori and non-Māori populations. Māori are more likely to develop diabetes, sight-threatening retinopathy and keratoconus, and present for cataract surgery earlier with more advanced disease. Limited data exists for macular degeneration and glaucoma, but there is some suggestion that Māori may have lower prevalence rates. The article emphasises the urgent need for robust national data on Māori ocular health to enable targeted interventions and funding allocation. Achieving equity for Māori in all aspects of health, including ocular health, requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders.

Eye care delivery models to improve access to eye care for Indigenous peoples in high-income countries: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Globally, there are ~370 million Indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples typically experience worse health compared with non-Indigenous people, including higher rates of avoidable vision impairment. Much of this gap in eye health can be attributed to barriers that impede access to eye care services. We conducted a scoping review to identify and summarise service delivery models designed to improve access to eye care for Indigenous peoples in high-income countries.

METHODS

Searches were conducted on MEDLINE, Embase and Global Health in January 2019 and updated in July 2020. All study designs were eligible if they described a model of eye care service delivery aimed at populations with over 50% Indigenous peoples. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles and completed data charting. We extracted data on publication details, study context, service delivery interventions, outcomes and evaluations, engagement with Indigenous peoples and access dimensions targeted. We summarised findings descriptively following thematic analysis.

RESULTS

We screened 2604 abstracts and 67 studies fulfilled our eligibility criteria. Studies were focused on Indigenous peoples in Australia (n=45), USA (n=11), Canada (n=7), New Zealand (n=2), Taiwan (n=1) and Greenland (n=1). The main disease focus was diabetic retinopathy (n=30, 45%), followed by 'all eye care' (n=16, 24%). Most studies focused on targeted interventions to increase availability of services. Fewer than one-third of studies reported involving Indigenous communities when designing the service. 41 studies reflected on whether the model improved access, but none undertook rigorous evaluation or quantitative assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

The geographical and clinical scope of service delivery models to improve access to eye care for Indigenous peoples in high-income countries is narrow, with most studies focused on Australia and services for diabetic retinopathy. More and better engagement with Indigenous communities is required to design and implement accessible eye care services.