Posters

Optimizing the number of postoperative visits after cataract surgery

Poster Details

First Author: I.Westborg SWEDEN

Co Author(s):    E. Monestam                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

We compared two different standard routine procedures after cataract surgery, no planned postoperative visit vs planned postoperative visit for first eye surgery. The aim was to evaluate safety and efficiency. .

Setting:

Eye clinic Sunderby Hospital, Norrbotten County council and Eye clinic, Department of Clinical Sciences/Ophthalmology, Umeå University, Sweden.

Methods:

All cases of cataract surgery (n=1249 and n=1162) performed at 2 institutions during a 1-year period where included in this prospective, observational, cohort study. The standard routine hospital 1, was no planned postoperative visit in uncomplicated cases. A postoperative visit was planned for some patients with significant eye diseases such as, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy. The routine hospital 2, was a planned visit for all first eye surgery patients. Postoperative visits were planned in second eye surgery if comorbidity and/or complications. Outcome measures were; planned postoperative visits, complications and/or adverse events, postoperative visual acuity and postoperative control/contact initiated by the patient.

Results:

There were no differences in age, sex, severe complications/adverse events and postoperative visual acuity between the 2 hospitals. A postoperative visit was planned in hospital 1 in 29% (366 of 1249) and in hospital 2 in 83% of all cases (966 of 1162). In hospital 1, 9% (117 of 1249) of the patients initiated a postoperative contact, 68% of these were first eye surgery. In hospital 2, 16% (182 of 1162) of the patients initiated a postoperative contact, 60% of these were first eye surgery. Reasons for patient-initiated contact were visual disturbance, redness and/or chafing, pain and anxiety.

Conclusions:

A postoperative visit after uncomplicated cataract surgery is not necessary in patients without ocular comorbidity. When planning cataract surgery, patients with comorbidity should be individually evaluated regarding any need of postoperative visits. A significant reduction in number of postoperative visits at the clinic can be obtained if the standard routine is no planned postoperative visit for both first and second eye surgery. However, preoperative information to the patient is important, and the clinic must have resources to answer questions from patients and have resources allocated for patient-initiated contact/visits.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE