Factors associated with second eye cataract surgery

Aims-To analyse the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associate d with second eye cataract surgery. Methods-An observational, longitudinal study of patients scheduled for firs t eye cataract surgery that did not involve a combined procedure was carrie d at two teaching hospitals and one non-teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spa in. Patients were followed for 2 years after first eye cataract surgery to assess whether and when they had undergone second eye cataract surgery. Cli nical characteristics, perceived health characteristics (perceived visual f unction and overall health status), and sociodemographic characteristics we re compared between two patient groups-those with surgery in only one eye a nd those who had undergone surgery in both eyes by the end of the 2 year fo llow up period. Results-Of the 242 patients studied, 125 (51.7%) underwent second eye surge ry during the 2 year observation period. Patients with visual acuity 6/18 ( 0.3) or worse in the second eye compared with those with visual acuity over 6/12 (0.5) and patients younger than 65 years compared with patients aged 65-74 were more likely to undergo second eye surgery (adjusted odds ratio 3 .9 and 1.8, respectively). 52 (44.5%) patients in the only one eye surgery group had a visual acuity less than 6/18 (0.3) in the second eye. Conclusions-Worse visual acuity in the second eye and younger ages are stro ngly associated with both eyes cataract surgery. There may be a potential i ncrease of demand for this procedure in the near future since almost half o f the patients with only one eye surgery presented a low visual acuity in t he second eye.