Cataract surgery could bring down traffic accidents

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Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery

Study shows that it is possible to prevent one traffic accident for every 5000 cataract surgeries done in one year

The world over, traffic accidents are among the biggest killers. And a small medical intervention could make at least some dent in those numbers.

In an article in Jama Ophthalmology Canadian researchers reported that cataract surgery is associated with a modest decrease in serious traffic crashes. The study also highlights patient groups who are at higher risk for traffic crashes and merit increased attention for road safety warnings. Specifically, patients with a history of a traffic crash were prone to subsequent crashes. The other higher risk characteristics included male sex, younger age, and general comorbidity.

Data from the national and state crime records bureau, available with the Union home ministry show that traffic accident deaths have been steadily increasing in India. Between 2005 and 2015 the numbers rose from 118265 to 177423 – a clear jump of 50%. Worldwide, traffic crashes account for 1.2 million deaths annually and the direct economic costs globally are estimated at $518 billion annually. Cataract is one of the most common reasons for blindness. World Health Organisation estimates that of the 12 million blind people in India, 80% lost their vision because of cataract. Common risk factors for cataract include older age, diabetes mellitus, traumatic injury, and steroid use. Early symptoms include decreased visual acuity, loss of contrast sensitivity, poor night vision, and increased glare.

Traffic accident deaths have been steadily increasing in India. Between 2005 and 2015 the numbers rose from 118265 to 177423 – a clear jump of 50%

The researchers, led by those from the University of Toronto reported: “We studied more than half a million patients who underwent cataract surgery and found a reduction in the patient’s subsequent risk of serious traffic crashes as a driver. The reduction was observed across diverse demographic, ophthalmologic, and medical characteristics. This reduction did not extend to control analyses where the patient was a passenger or a pedestrian nor to health care use as measured by total emergency visits. The overall pattern was not readily explained by aging, other time trends, fluctuating driving patterns, or random chance.”

Statistical analyses showed that the absolute risk reduction post cataract surgery amounted to prevention of one traffic accident for every 5000 cataract surgeries done in one year.

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