Abstract:
Aim: To describe Cataract Surgical Coverage (CSC) and barriers in the Republic of Moldova
Methods and Materials: Cataract Surgical Coverage, both for “eyes” as well as “persons”, was
calculated from RAAB survey conducted in 111 communities (towns/ villages) in the Republic of
Moldova. A total of 3877 subjects out of the 3885 eligible subjects were examined. Data collection
was done in selected clusters by house to house visits using a standard methodology of
examination. Visual acuity, cause of vision loss, history of cataract surgery and cause of poor
vision (if less than 6/60) were assessed.
Results: The blindness prevalence in the Republic of Moldova is 1.4% (95%CI 1.0-1.8) -13.693
people, the major causes of blindness beeing untreated cataract (58.2%),
The age and sex adjusted prevalence of cataract responsible for bilateral blindness (vision less than
3/60 in better eye) among the study population was 0.65% (males 0.54%, females 0.72%). The age
and sex adjusted cataract surgical coverage (CSC) for persons with cataract responsible for vision
less than 3/60 was 77.8% with similar rates among both sexes.
This study showed that financial problem (mostly indirect costs as travel expenses, etc) was the
most important barrier (28,6%) to uptake cataract surgery.
Conclusions: The RAAB survey in the Republic of Moldova established that untreated cataract is
the major cause of avoidable blindness in this area and the CSC increase with worsening of visual
acuity, suggesting that persons undergo surgery in the later stages of cataract.
