Guruprasad S. Bettadapura et al BARRIERS TO THE UPTAKE OF CATARACT SURGERY IN A RURAL POPULATION OF SOUTH KARNATAKA, INDIA

Purpose: To analyse the barriers to the uptake of cataract surgery in patients aged over 50 years in a rural set up and suggest possible remedial measures. Methods: Sixty one clusters of 50 people aged over 50 years were selected by probabilityproportionate to size sampling. All participants were evaluated using standard Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness ( RAAB ) methodology. People with unilateral or bilateral cataract were interviewed about the reasons for not having undergone surgery. Results: Of the 3050 people enumerated, 2907(95.3%) were examined. Among them 1360(47%) were males and 1547(53%) were females. Out of them, 73(2.51%) were bilaterally blind due to cataract(vision < 3/60). The main barriers noted in bilateral cataract blind were "No one to accompany" and "Waiting for maturity"(27.2% each). Conclusion: Augmenting the outreach programmes accompanied by information and motivational campaigns will reduce barriers to uptake of cataract surgery and in turn reduce the cataract blindness.