Canadian provincial cataract surgery wait times from 2008 to 2023: a retrospective study of Canadian Institute for Health information data.

OBJECTIVE: To compare Canadian provincial cataract surgery "Wait Time 2" (WT2) between 2008 and 2023. WT2 refers to the interval between surgical booking and the date of surgery, with a national benchmark of ≤16 weeks in Canada. DESIGN: A retrospective population-based analysis of the Canadian Institute for Health Information priority procedure database. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (≥18 years) undergoing publicly funded first-eye cataract surgery in Canada. METHODS: The analysis was limited to first-eye cataract surgeries. Metrics included surgical volume, median WT2, 90th percentile WT2, and the proportion of surgeries completed within the 16-week national benchmark. RESULTS: We identified 2,322,451 cataract procedures between 2008 and 2023. There was an increase in the national median income and 90th percentile cataract surgery WT2 by 3.04 days/year (p = 0.03) and 11.26 days/year (p < 0.01), respectively. Between 2008 and 2023, 6 provinces (Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec) experienced significant average annual increases to their 50th and 90th percentile WT2, alongside reductions in the proportion of patients meeting the benchmark period. In the interprovincial analysis, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba had the greatest increase in median WT2 and the lowest benchmark achievement compared to other provinces. Quebec had the lowest WT2 and a higher proportion of cataract surgeries within the benchmark period. Provincially, greater ophthalmologist density, greater gross domestic product per capita, and a lower proportion of urban-dwelling residents were significantly associated with shorter WT2 times and higher rates of WT2 benchmark achievement. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2008 and 2023, WT2 and the proportion of patients missing WT2 benchmarks generally increased across Canada.