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Rapid assessment of cataract surgical coverage in rural Zululand.

OBJECTIVE
Cataract surgical coverage (CSC) is a useful indicator of the degree of success of a cataract intervention programme. However, because previously described methods are time-consuming and labour-intensive, they are rarely performed. This study describes a simple and inexpensive assessment of CSC based on screening of pensioners at pension delivery sites in a rural district.


DESIGN
Random cluster-based cross-sectional survey.


SETTING
State pension distribution sites in Hlabisa, a rural district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.


SUBJECTS
562 old-age pensioners.


METHOD
Subjects found to be blind (visual acuity < 3/60) and those reporting a history of eye surgery were examined using a torch and direct ophthalmoscope by an ophthalmologist.


OUTCOME MEASURES
Cases of blindness due to operable cataract and post-cataract surgical subjects were identified.


RESULTS
CSC was found to be 38.5% (95% confidence interval 29.1-47.9%). Blindness prevalence was 10.3%, with 69.0% due to cataract.