Impact of cataract screening integrated into establishment of resident health record on surgical output in a rural area of south China

BACKGROUND: Strategy establishment for improving the efficiency and sustainability of cataract surgical output is important for eye health program. The aim of this study is to assess the three-year output of a novel cataract screening model integrated into establishment of resident health record in a rural area of south China. METHODS: A novel cataract screening model which combined private hospital screening and annual health examinations for establishing resident health record from January 2015 to December 2017 was implemented in an eye hospital in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China. Demographic information and cataract surgery rate were recorded. A subgroup of patients who underwent cataract surgery were surveyed by customized questionnaire to determine the accessibility to eye-care services and barriers to cataract surgery. RESULTS: A total of 172,814 people aged ≥50 years in Zhaoqing were screened and 56,292 (32.57%) people were diagnosed with age-related cataract, among whom 18,422 (10.66%) with a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) less than 20/63 were recommended for cataract surgery. Surgery was performed on 11,105 (60.28%) recommended patients. After the introduction of this screening model, the cataract surgical rate (CSR) in this area dramatically increased to 2,739/million/y (by 1.8 folds) in 2015 and 3,678/million/y (by 2.4 folds) in 2017, compared with that in 2014 (1,520/million/y). Accessibility to eye-care service was improved, and the main reason for not receiving cataract surgery changed from misconception of cataract to having good vision in the fellow eye after 3 years of screening. CONCLUSIONS: This study documented the benefit of a novel cataract screening model integrated into establishment of resident health record in rural China, which may serve as a cost-effective, practicable, and sustainable strategy to disseminate cataract knowledge and eliminate cataract blindness.