Browsing by Author "Amaratunge, M.S."

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Barriers for cataract treatment among elderly in Sri Lanka
(Hindawi Publication Corporation, 2019) Nishad, N.; Hewage, S.A.; Arulmoly, K.; Amaratunge, M.S.; de Silva, J.; Kasturiratne, K.T.A.A.; Abeysundara, P.K.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
Cataract is still the leading cause of blindness. Many government institutes and voluntary organizations in Sri Lanka are providing free treatment services to patients with cataract. Still people are not patronizing the available free services; thus they have to live with impaired vision or blindness. This paper describes the barriers for cataract treatment among the population over 60 years of age. Out of 470 elders, 379 were found to have some kind of cataract. This study demonstrated lack of awareness and knowledge, socioeconomic factors, and misconceptions as the main barriers for cataract treatment which has led to a lower cataract surgery rate irrespective of the high cataract prevalence reported. Findings of this study highlight the importance of cataract as a common health problem in elderly and need for removal of the barriers for its treatment which should be given due prominence in the formulation of public health policy in Sri Lanka at the earliest.
Does Sanders-Retzlaff-Kraff (SRK-2) formula suit a Sri Lankan population in phacoemulsification cataract surgery of medium axial length?
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2012) Amaratunge, M.S.; de Silva, J.; Wasthuhewaarachchi, I.M.; Uyangoda, S.H.; Mallawaarachchi, M.A.J.I.; Premaratna, R.; Nishad, A.A.N.
INTRODUCTION: After introduction of phacoemulsification with small incision techniques, intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation predictionhas become a crucial step for good refractive outcomes. SRK-2 formula is widely used for that purpose in many locations. AIMS: To evaluate the predictive accuracy of post operative refraction using SRK-2 formula in phacoemulsification of eyes with 22-26mm axial length. METHODS: Patients with senile cataracts undergoing phacoemulsification and IOL during 2011 in Gampaha district by a single surgeon were selected randomly. Single examiner measured simulated manual keratometry preoperatively, seven days postoperatively. Uncorrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination of anterior segment and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) were measured. The implanted IOL power was used to calculate the predicted postoperative refractive error using time SRK-2 formula. RESULTS: Of 274 patients (56% females, mean (SD) age 65.3(10) years), the right eye was operated in 142(51.8%). On postoperative seventh day, 79% had VA of 6/6 and 14% to 6/9, 4% to 6/12 to 6/36 in the operated eye. Mean (SD) of IOL power used 21.50 (1.90)D. The predicted refractive error with SRK-2 was -0.3(0.145)0 and the achieved refractive error was -0.22(0.732)0. Difference between predicted and achieved refractive error presented a slight hyperopic shift (mean(SD) 0.054(0.397)0}. There was a negative Pearson correlation (-0.126) between the predicted refractive error and achieved refractive error (p=0.04). Predictive error was less than 0.5 in 80.2%, <0.75 in 88.6% and <1.0 in 96.7%. CONCLUSIONS: SRK-2 formula is a good option to predict the refractive error after cataract extraction by phacoemulsification in eyes with medium axial length.
Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension among three populations with cataract in Vavuniya and Gampaha districts in the post conflict era
(Sri Lanka Medical Assosiation, 2012) Amaratunge, M.S.; de Silva, J.; Wasthuhewaarachchi, I.M.; Uyangoda, S.H.; Mallawaarachchi, M.A.J.; Premaratna, R.; Nishad, A.A.N.
INTRODUCTION: Identification of socio economic factors and non communicable disease profiles of patients with cataract is important to plan vision related health services. AIMS: To compare prevalence of diabetes mellitus [DM] and hypertension (HT) among three groups of cataract patients. METHODS: Prevalence of diabetes-and hypertension was compared in groups of patients with cataracts during second quarter of 2011. Group A: a rural population in Vavuniya, B: semi-urban low socioeconomic group and C: semi-urban higher socioeconomic group in Gampaha. Standard criteria used to detect diabetes and hypertension. RESULTS: Population in A 167(36% males), B 207(62% males) and C 407(40% males). Mean (SD) age was 65(10) years. Male diabetes prevalence (95% CI) were A 20% (9.3-28), B 30%(22.6-38.4) and C 37.9%(30.8-45.6) (p=0.009). Prevalence (95%CI) of diabetes in females were A 17.8% (11.7-26), B 19% (11.9-29) and C 33.7% (28.1-39.9) (p=0.002). Hypertension prevalence in males (95%CI) A 23.3% (15- 35.4), B 35.4% (27.6-44) and C 36-6% (29.6-44.3) (>=0.16) a"d in females A 26.2% (18.8-35.2), B 15.2% (9-24.7) and C 45.1% (39-51.4) (p=0.001). Prevalence of either diabetes or hypertension among males A 31.7% (21-44), B 54.3% (45.7-62.7) and C 56% (48.2-63.3) (p=0.001) and among females A 34.6% (26- 44), B 26.6% (18-37.2) and C 57.8% (51,5-63.7) (p=0.001). Conclusions: Females in higher socioeconomic group of Gampaha district had higher diabetes and hypertension prevalence than in lower socioeconomic populations. Male groups showed same pattern for diabetes but not for hypertension. Overall prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were higher than for general population in Sri Lanka.