Hip Fracture Is Less Likely After Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are an important and common cause of visual impairment, and visual impairment is associated with hip fracture risk. However, in only a few small studies have researchers examined the effect of cataract surgery on risk for hip fracture.

In a retrospective cohort study of U.S. elders with cataracts, researchers used the Medicare database to compare fracture incidence between approximately 400,000 patients who underwent cataract surgery and 700,000 who did not. During 1 year of follow-up, the overall incidence of hip fracture was 1.3%, and the incidence of any fracture was 5.4%. In analyses that were adjusted for demographic factors, chronic disease comorbidity, and cataract severity, patients who underwent cataract surgery had 16% lo…