Jayapura — Cataract remains one of the leading causes of visual impairment in Indonesia, particularly in regions where access to specialized eye care is limited. A recent hospital-based study conducted at Dian Harapan Hospital in Jayapura found that advanced age and a history of ocular trauma are the most significant factors associated with cataract among ophthalmology outpatients in 2025.
The research analyzed 202 outpatient medical records to identify risk patterns related to cataract occurrence in Papua’s referral eye-care setting. The findings provide valuable local epidemiological evidence supporting targeted screening strategies and improved prioritization of cataract services in eastern Indonesia.
Globally, cataract is widely recognized as the primary cause of preventable blindness. While surgical treatment is highly effective, delayed diagnosis remains common in geographically challenging regions such as Papua, where access to ophthalmologists and specialized facilities is unevenly distributed.
Using a quantitative analytic cross-sectional design, researchers examined electronic medical record data from January to December 2025. Among the respondents, 151 patients (74.8%) were diagnosed with cataract, highlighting the substantial burden of lens opacity among ophthalmology clinic visitors in Jayapura.
Although respondents represented diverse demographic and occupational backgrounds, statistical analysis confirmed that only age and ocular trauma history showed significant associations with cataract presence. Patients aged 60 years or older were 1.53 times more likely to develop cataract than younger individuals.
This relationship reflects well-established biological processes linked to aging. Over time, cumulative oxidative stress, metabolic changes, and structural alterations in lens proteins gradually reduce lens transparency. These degenerative mechanisms ultimately impair visual clarity and daily functioning.
In addition to age, ocular trauma emerged as the most dominant predictor in multivariate analysis. Patients with a history of eye injury had approximately 2.7 times higher odds of experiencing cataract compared with those without such history.
This finding highlights the importance of preventive eye protection in occupational environments and daily activities. Even minor trauma may disrupt the lens capsule or fibers, accelerating opacity formation and increasing long-term visual risk.
Interestingly, several variables commonly associated with cataract in previous studies—including ethnicity, occupation, diabetes mellitus history, prior eye disease, and eye surgery history—were not statistically significant in this dataset. Researchers suggest that limited detail in secondary medical record variables may partly explain these results.
For example, diabetes status was recorded only as present or absent without information on disease duration or glycemic control. Similarly, occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation was not measured in detail, reducing its analytical sensitivity.
Despite these limitations, the study provides strong evidence supporting risk-based screening strategies in Papua. Elderly patients and individuals with a history of ocular trauma should be prioritized for early detection programs and preventive education initiatives.
The findings also underscore the importance of improving electronic medical record completeness in hospital-based epidemiological research. More detailed documentation would allow future studies to evaluate additional determinants such as steroid use, ultraviolet exposure, nutritional status, and access to eye-care services.
From a public health perspective, the research reinforces the strategic role of referral hospitals in strengthening regional blindness prevention programs. Risk-focused service delivery models can improve efficiency while ensuring earlier intervention for vulnerable populations.
Future investigations are encouraged to incorporate broader environmental and lifestyle variables to better understand cataract risk patterns across eastern Indonesia, where epidemiological evidence remains limited but urgently needed.
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