Predictors of Time to Recovery from Cataract Surgery among Cataract Patients at Menelik II Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: A Retrospective Follow up Study

Background Cataracts are the leading cause of reversible blindness globally, disproportionately affecting populations in low- and middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, cataracts remain a significant public health concern. Despite the effectiveness of cataract surgery in restoring vision, information on recovery time and its predictors remain limited. The aim of this study was to assess time to recovery and its predictors among patients undergoing cataract. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 459 cataract patients who underwent surgery between January 1 and December 31, 2023. Data were randomly extracted from their medical records between June 1 and August 15, 2024. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the survival probabilities and compare groups, with significant differences tested using the log-rank test. The Weibull regression with the inverse Gaussian frailty was applied following a goodness-of-fit test to identify predictors of time to recovery. Results are presented as adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All statistical tests were declared significant at P-value < 0.05. Results we reviewed 459 patient cards, and 368 (80.17%, 95% CI: 76.26–83.58%) had recovered from a cataract surgery over 7,919.28 person-weeks. The overall incidence rate of recovery was at 46.47 per 1,000 persons per week (95% CI: 41.95–51.47). The median recovery time was at 18.14 weeks (IQR: 12.29–24, 95% CI: 17.14–18.86). Age over 60 years (AHR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07–0.96), urban residence (AHR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.15–2.70), preoperative visual acuity (medium: AHR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.23–3.18; high: AHR = 5.83, 95% CI: 1.72–19.77), comorbidities (ocular: AHR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.15–0.61; systemic: AHR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22–0.75), type of surgery (phacoemulsification: AHR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.06–3.67; intracapsular cataract extraction: AHR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03–0.89), and complications (intraoperative: AHR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.12–0.71; postoperative: AHR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06–0.47), and surgeries performed by an ophthalmologist (AHR = 3.44, 95% CI: 1.80–6.55) were statistically significant predictors of time to recovery from cataract surgery. Conclusion The median recovery time was shorter than in previous local studies but longer than in developed countries. Improved preoperative assessment, effective comorbidity management, minimizing complications, prioritizing phacoemulsification surgery, and involving skilled ophthalmologists are crucial for enhancing recovery outcomes. Personalized care approaches are recommended to optimize postoperative recovery.