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Bilateral cataract surgery issues 2013

Session Details

Session Title: Practice Styles

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/10/2013 | 14:30-16:10

Paper Time: 15:21

Venue: Emerald (First Floor)

First Author: : S.Arshinoff CANADA

Co Author(s): :                  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To analyze global issues that arose in 2013 with respect to bilateral cataract surgery

Setting:

York Finch Eye Associates, Toronto, Canada, and the International Society of Bilateral Cataract Surgeons, London, UK.

Methods:

As co-president of the International Society of Bilateral Cataract Surgeons, issues are constantly brought to my attention Two issues have merited significant attention in 2013. They were investigated for possible global implications through members of the society and the ophthalmic literature

Results:

1. In June of 2012 the government of Ontario, Canada, significantly changed surgical funding models in their completely socialized health care system such that hospitals were no longer funded to perform bilateral cataract surgery, thus financially eliminating the procedure. We analyzed the legislation and subsequent changes and initiatives, and sought analogous situations globally, which are surprisingly common. 2. A reasonable body of literature is emerging dealing with the prediction of correction factors for second eye cataract surgery when the first eye result is suboptimal. The literature and its implications for bilateral cataract surgery were analyzed.

Conclusions:

1. Delivery of health care should be based upon scientific evidence of what is best for the patient, and not apparently randomly devised funding models based on the opportunity of political jargon change. 2. The only acceptable fudging method for second eye surgery is continuous improvement in biometric methodology.

Financial Interest:

NONE