Effective cataract surgical and refractive error coverages in the State of Qatar

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the progress in Qatar's eye care since 2009, focusing on effective cataract surgical and refractive error coverages, leading to enhance eye health strategies and action plans. Methods A modified Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey was employed using multi-stage sampling in all persons 50 years and older in Qatar. The study focused on uncorrected refractive errors, cataract surgery coverage and effectiveness, and visual acuity assessment, with secure data gathering. Results There were 339 individuals out of 3,206 examined participants who underwent cataract surgery out of which 66.1% of the operated eyes obtained ‘Good’ post-operative outcomes (Vision ≥ 6/12). The Effective Cataract Surgical Coverage (eCSC) was 61.2%, which is on par with developed countries. WHO set a global target for countries to achieve a 30 percentage-point increase in eCSC by 2030, accordingly Qatar's target should be 91.2% by 2030. Additionally, the study found that the Refractive Error Coverage and the effective Refractive Coverage across were 77.8% and 74.3%, respectively. Notably, these rates were lowest among Qatari women. Conclusion Qatar's eye care services have shown an improvement since the 2009 RAAB, with disparities in outcomes based on gender and nationality. Continued efforts are needed to meet WHO standards and reduce quality gaps, particularly among Qataris.