Cataract surgical reach: Falling short to catch white cataracts!

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to know proportion of white cataracts from among patients coming for cataract surgery, and to find causes delaying uptake of cataract surgery. METHODS: A hospital-based, prospective study enrolled patients of senile cataract between April 2018 and March 2019. The proportion of white cataract was calculated and underlying causes delaying uptake of cataract surgery studied. RESULTS: White cataracts constituted 13.5% of total 3634 senile cataract patients, with gender disparity disfavoring women. Bilateral white cataract was presentation in 39 (8%) patients and lens-related glaucoma in 24 (5%) patients. Pseudophakia in the other eye was single most common cause of delay. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of white cataracts suggest that penetration of cataract surgical services in not reaching to the most eligible individual.