Wait Times for Cataract Surgery (Percentiles)
50th percentile: Half of all patients waited this many days before receiving care.
90th percentile: 1 out of 10 patients waited this many days or more before receiving care.
This indicator is calculated based on provincial and national wait time data for the first two quarters of the fiscal year (April–September), and includes all procedures that are publicly funded under the provincial health plan.
Measures:
50th percentile: Half of all patients waited this many days before receiving care.
90th percentile: 1 out of 10 patients waited this many days or more before receiving care.
Unit of Analysis: Episode of care
Calculation of all-Canada estimates:
All-Canada Median and 90th Percentile Waits
The national estimate for the 50th and 90th percentiles was calculated using a weighted average of provincial submissions. Weights were calculated using provincially submitted surgical volumes.
Not applicable
50th percentile: Half of all patients waited this many days before receiving care.
90th percentile: 1 out of 10 patients waited this many days or more before receiving care.
Methodology
Name
Wait Times for Cataract Surgery (Percentiles)
Short/Other Names
Not applicable
Description
The number of days a patient waited, between the date when the patient and the appropriate physician agreed to a cataract surgery and the patient was ready to receive it, and the date the patient received a planned cataract surgery
Rationale
In 2004, Canada's first ministers agreed to work toward reducing wait times for five priority areas: cancer treatment, cardiac care, diagnostic imaging, joint replacement and sight restoration. CIHI was mandated to collect wait time information and monitor provincial progress in meeting benchmarks.
Many factors affect wait times, for example, availability of resources, efficiency of a particular facility, seasonal effects, volumes, patient choice, patient condition, follow-up care and/or treatment complexity.
This indicator can be used to understand access to care and to know how provinces are performing in terms of providing access to services.
Interpretation
50th percentile: Half of all patients waited this many days before receiving care.
90th percentile: 1 out of 10 patients waited this many days or more before receiving care.
HSP Framework Dimension
Health system outputs: Access to comprehensive, high-quality health services
Areas of Need
Getting Better
Targets/Benchmarks
Within 16 weeks (112 days).
The pan-Canadian benchmark specifies surgery within 16 weeks (112 days) for patients who are at high risk. There is not yet consensus on a definition of "high risk," so the benchmark is applied across all priority levels.
Available Data Years
to (fiscal years)
Geographic Coverage
- All provinces
Reporting Level/Disaggregation
- National
- Province/Territory
Indicator Results
Update Frequency
Every year
Latest Results Update Date
Updates
There may be some provincial exceptions to the standard methodology each year. For details, please see the Trend tab of CIHI’s wait time visualization.
Description
This indicator is calculated based on provincial and national wait time data for the first two quarters of the fiscal year (April–September), and includes all procedures that are publicly funded under the provincial health plan.
Measures:
50th percentile: Half of all patients waited this many days before receiving care.
90th percentile: 1 out of 10 patients waited this many days or more before receiving care.
Unit of Analysis: Episode of care
Calculation of all-Canada estimates:
All-Canada Median and 90th Percentile Waits
The national estimate for the 50th and 90th percentiles was calculated using a weighted average of provincial submissions. Weights were calculated using provincially submitted surgical volumes.
Type of Measurement
Number - 50th percentile, 90th percentile
Denominator
Description:
Not applicable
Numerator
Description:
50th percentile: Half of all patients waited this many days before receiving care.
90th percentile: 1 out of 10 patients waited this many days or more before receiving care.
Inclusions:
- Age 18 and older
- 1.CL.89.^^ Excision total, lens
and one of the following diagnoses:- H25.– Senile cataract
- H26.– Other cataract
- H28.– Cataract and other disorders of lens in diseases classified elsewhere (except H28.8 Other disorders of lens in diseases classified elsewhere)
- First eye only; bilateral cataract removal counts as a single wait
- All priority levels
Exclusions:
- Emergency cases
- Days when patient was unavailable
- Abandoned procedures
Method of Adjustment
Not applicable
Adjustment Applied
None
Geographic Assignment
Place of service
Data Sources
- Provincial Wait Times Registry
Data may come from various sources, depending on the province.
Caveats and Limitations
Some provinces may have some exceptions and their methodology may be slightly different than the standard methodology. For details, please see the Trend tab of CIHI’s wait time visualization.
Trending Issues
Since 2008, an increasing number of provinces have adapted to the standard methodology in order to increase the comparability of results. When comparing data for a particular province over time, attention should be given to the exceptions. For details, please see the Trend tab of CIHI’s wait time visualization.
References
Health Canada. A 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. Health Canada. Updated September 16, 2004. Accessed June 7, 2013.
How to cite:
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Wait Times for Cataract Surgery (Percentiles). Accessed April 25, 2025.
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Comments
Not applicable