Efficacy of cataract surgeries performed during blindness prevention programs in Chongqing, China: a multicenter prospective study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of cataract surgeries in blindness prevention programs in Chongqing. METHODS: During February–December 2019, we prospectively enrolled 487 patients (592 eyes) undergoing cataract surgery during blindness prevention programs in 6 Chongqing district/county hospitals (experimental group) and 481 patients (609 eyes) undergoing cataract surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (controls). Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), refractive status, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp examination, and visual function/quality of life (VF-QOL) questionnaire scores were evaluated preoperatively, and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In the experimental group, UCVA, BCVA, and VF-QOL scores at 1 and 6 months were better than the preoperative values (P < 0.05), but lower than the control-group values (P < 0.05). Rates of good UCVA and BCVA outcomes (≤ 0.5 logMAR) in the experimental group were 76.2% and 87.6%, respectively, at 1 month and 68.9% and 83.1%, respectively, at 6 months. Most eyes in the experimental (82.1%) and control (89.5%) groups had refractive errors within ± 1 D at 1 month. At 6 months, posterior capsule opacification (PCO) was more common in the experimental group (20.9% vs. 15.0%, P < 0.05). At 6 months, the main causes of visual impairment (UCVA > 0.5 logMAR) in the experimental group were uncorrected refractive errors (33.0%), PCO (29.5%), and fundus diseases (33.9%). CONCLUSION: Cataract surgeries in blindness prevention programs in Chongqing significantly improved visual acuity, VF, and QOL, but underperformed compared to surgeries in the tertiary teaching hospital.