Time trends in cataract surgery and after-cataract laser capsulotomy in Taiwan: A population-based retrospective cohort study

Objectives Determine the incidence rate, risk factors, and time trends from 2000 to 2010 for cataract surgery and after-cataract laser capsulotomy. Materials and methods Longitudinal Health Insurance Databases (LHID) with approximately 3 million people in Taiwan National Health Insurance Program from 2000, 2005, and 2010 was used. Index year was defined as year 2000 for LHID2000, year 2005 for LHID2005, and year 2010 for LHID2010. Results The age-standardized rate of first-eye cataract surgery per 100,000 persons was 324 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 288–363) in 2000, 317 (95%CI = 288–353) in 2005, and 342 (95%CI = 308–379) in 2010. Risk factors related to the incidence of cataract surgery included age, sex, diabetes mellitus, geographic region, and income level (all p values < 0.05). The incidence rate of laser posterior capsulotomy within 2 years after cataract surgery was 23.3% in 2000 but decreased to 14.6% in 2005 and to 12.9% in 2010. The incidence of laser capsulotomy for after-cataract was significantly associated with index year, age, sex, in- or out-patient, and edge design of intraocular lenses (all p values < 0.05). Conclusion The incidence rate of cataract surgery over year 2000–2010 remained stable after age standardization. However, the incidence rate of laser capsulotomy for after-cataract significantly decreased during the 10-year study period.