AIM: To analysis of cataract prevalence and operation status in people aged 65 years old in the eastern Fengxian of Shanghai.

METHODS: In the period of January to December 2015, random stratified sampling in the whole group was taken in 3 050 people over 65 years, in Situan and Fengcheng, two towns at the Eastern District of Fengxian Town. Ophthalmologic examination and questionnaire survey were given to those people, including slit lamp microscopy and visual acuity(LogMAR)and the conditions on cataract surgery.

RESULTS: Totally 1244 cases of cataract were found in 3050 subjects, the prevalence rate was 40.79%. The prevalence rates in the subjects of different ages were different, as the age increases, the prevalence rate was rising. The difference of prevalence rate in different age groups was statistically significant(χ²=558.6, P<0.001); the prevalence rate of male and female were 31.06% and 49.94%, the difference was statistically significant(χ²=112.4, P<0.001); the rate of illiterate and literate was 52.04% and 38.76% respectively with significantly difference(χ²=28.78, P<0.001). Cataract surgery was taken in 765 cases, surgical coverage rate was 61.25%; difference on age, gender was not statistically significant; the degree of education: the rate in literate was significantly far higher than in the illiterate, the difference was statistically significant(χ²=39.72, P<0.001). Postoperative corrected visual acuity ≥0.3 was considered as removing from disable and postoperative corrected visual acuity ≥0.05 as removing from the blind. The rate removing from disable was 71.50%, the rate removing from the blind was 95.29%. In 765 eyes receiving surgery, postoperative complications occurred in 29 eyes, 3.79% of the total eye receiving surgery.

CONCLUSION: Cataract is the common blind causing disease in the elderly, and the prevalence rate of cataract in eastern Fengxian of Shanghai is high. Although in recent years, the Restoring Vision Project has been developed, the surgical coverage has been improved, and the prevention and control of cataract is still the primary task of blind prevention.