18.234.139.149
dgid:
enl:
npi:0
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
Cataract/Anterior Segment

Cataract Surgery-Traffic Accident Link Investigated

Posted on

Cataract surgery is linked with a small decrease in a patient’s risk of having a serious traffic accident, according to a population-based individual-patient self-matching exposure-crossover design study involving nearly 560,000 individuals.

Participants were ≥65 years of age (average age 76) from Ontario, Canada who had their first cataract extraction between early 2006 and 2016. Investigators looked at the rate of emergency department visits for a traffic accident as a driver. Among the results:

  • 2.36 traffic accidents per 1,000 patient-years were observed during a 3.5-year baseline interval before cataract surgery (4,680 total).
  • 2.14 per 1,000 patient-years were seen during a 1-year subsequent interval (1,200 total).
  • The change represented a 3% reduced risk.
  • Younger patients were 27% more likely to be involved in an accident.
  • The same was true for those with a history of crash (nearly 3 times more likely); more emergency visits (34% more likely), and frequent outpatient physician visits (17% more likely).

Schlenker M, Thiruchelvam D, Redeerlmeier D.  Association of cataract surgery with traffic crashes. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2018;136(9):998-1007. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.2510.

-Advertisement-
Related Articles
How do patients use social media after cataract surgery?
Jul 29, 2021
Cataract surgery reduces average number ocular hypotensive medications
Jul 22, 2021
American Academy of Ophthalmology and ASCRS Urge Aetna to Reverse Disruptive New Policy on Cataract Surgery
Jul 05, 2021
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-