The Association between Socioeconomic Factors and Visual Function among Patients with Age-Related Cataracts

Abstract

Background. With the development of the economy, socioeconomic factors, such as inequalities in the status of regional economies and the subsequent effects on health systems, have influenced the status of health. We explored the association between age-related cataracts and socioeconomic indicators, including the regional economy, health systems, and energy industries. Methods. This was a prospective, multicenter, Chinese population-based, cross-sectional study. A total of 830 participants from seven centers were enrolled. Data on the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III) score, Visual Function Index-14 (VF-14) score, total and subscale scores of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25), per capita disposable income (PCDI), medical resource-related indicators, and investments in the energy industry were obtained. Associations among these parameters were analyzed. Results. The PCDI ranking was correlated with the VF-14 score (R = −0.426, P < 0.01 ), total score of NEI-VFQ-25 (r = −0.500, P < 0.01 ), and BCVA (r = 0.278, P < 0.01 ). The number of health agencies (r1 = 0.267, r2 = −0.303, r3 = −0.291,), practicing or assistant practicing doctors (r1 = -0.283, r2 = 0.427, r3 = 0.502,), registered nurses (r1 = −0.289, r2 = 0.409, r3 = 0.469, P < 0.01 ), and health technicians (r1 = −0.278, r2 = 0.426, r3 = 0.500, P < 0.01 ) per 10,000 of the population was each correlated with the BCVA, VF-14 score, and total score of NEI-VFQ-25, respectively. Health expenditure per capita was correlated with the VF-14 score (r = 0.287, P < 0.01 ) and total score of NEI-VFQ-25 (r = 0.459, P < 0.01 ). The LOCS III P score was correlated with investments in the energy industry (r = 0.485, P < 0.001 ). Conclusions. Patients in higher economic regions with greater medical resources show a greater demand to undergo cataract surgery at a better subjective and objective visual function. The energy industry has a significant effect on cataracts, especially the posterior subcapsular cataract, and thus more attention should be paid to people in regions with abundant energy industries.

Risk of cataract and glaucoma among older persons with diabetes in India: a cross-sectional study based on LASI, Wave-1

“…which could result in an underrepresentation of the glaucoma or cataract burden among the oldest age group. Additional factors such as differences in genetic predisposition across different cohorts 44 , socioeconomic status 45 , and access to healthcare services 46 may also influence the prevalence of glaucoma among individuals aged over 80 years in India. Previous studies show that diabetes is associated with different eye diseases like, retinopathy, cataract and glaucoma primarily; whereby, persons with type-1 diabetes demonstrate higher chances of retinal complications than those with type-2 diabetes 4 , 32 , 47 – 49 .…”

ZNF219 protects human lens epithelial cells against H2O2-induced injury via targeting SOX9 through activating AKT/GSK3β pathway

“…Lens opacity is the main cause of cataract, and surgical treatment is the main way to fight against cataract. 10 However, the main cause of the recurrence of cataract is the surgical treatment. For cataract, targeted therapy has the potential advantages of less side effects.…”

A qualitative study on gender barriers to access cataract surgery in rural Gurugram, Haryana, India

“…Studies show that rates of blindness are higher in rural areas with low economic growth and high levels of poverty. In comparison to their urban counterparts, there are more visually impaired women in rural areas (Dandona et al, 2001; Finger et al, 2012; Wan et al, 2020). For instance, research in rural India revealed that women, poor, rural residents and patients aged 70 or older who underwent cataract surgery had less than ideal visual outcomes (Fant, 2017).…”