Objectives: To evaluate the cataract surgery status of Qingdao Eye Hospital and to explore the changes in living quality and people's awareness of the eye diseases in Qingdao based on this information.
Methods: Various parameters from patients who underwent cataract surgery in Qingdao Eye Hospital in the years 1994, 1999 and 2004 were collected, including age, nuclear hardness, occupation, pre- and postoperative vision acuity as well as the type of surgical procedures and complications of the surgery. Data from different years were compared and analyzed to explore the changes and the significance of these changes.
Results: Three hundred and thirty-eight senile cataract cases were operated on in 1994 including 36 cases that underwent Phaco (10.65%). The percentage of nuclear hardness < IV, = IV and = V grade was 11.83%, 27.51% and 60.66% respectively. The age of the patient < 60 years, 60 - 69 years, 70 - 79 years and over 80 years was 12.34%, 33.14%, 33.43% and 21.01%, respectively. Four hundred and sixty senile cataract cases were operated on in 1999, including 180 cases that underwent Phaco (39.13%). The percentage of nuclear hardness < = III, = IV and = V grade was 24.35%, 38.26% and 37.39%, respectively. The age of the patient < 60 years, 60 - 69 years, 70 - 79 years and > 80 years was 14.13%, 35.22%, 31.96%, and 18.70%, respectively. Four hundred and ninety nine senile cataract cases were operated on in 2004 including 396 cases that underwent Phaco (79.36%). The percentage of nuclear hardness < IV, = IV and = V grade was 30.66%, 39.28% and 30.06%, respectively. The age of the patient < 60 years, 60 - 69 years, 70 - 79 years and > 80 years was 19.44%, 36.47%, 30.66% and 13.43%, respectively.
Conclusions: The present study indicates that the number of cataract operations and the percentage of rural patients have increased gradually in the past 10 years in our hospital. The age of operated patients and nuclear hardness of the cataract, the percentage of hypermature cataract and severe vision-damaged cases have decreased gradually. The percentage of Phaco surgery has increased and the results of this operation have improved significantly. These changes indicate that economic conditions in Qingduo have developed, the life quality and health conditions of Qingdao's residents have improved rapidly. The people in this region have shown more and more concern for individual eye health.