First Author: S.Arshinoff CANADA
Co Author(s):
Purpose:
To review the current status of immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) worldwide, and attempt to identify issues.
Setting:
York Finch Eye Associates, Humber River Regional Hospital, and the International Society of Bilateral Cataract Surgeons (iSBCS), Toronto, Canada
Methods:
Review of issues brought to my attention, as president of iSBCS over the past year.
Results:
There has been growing interest in the iSBCS, with doubling of membership in one year. American ophthalmologists have become one of the major national membership groups, whereas they were previously a very small minority. Spain is the first country to study the issue and the Spanish government has published a statement concluding that ISBCS is equal in safety and efficacy to DSBCS (delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery). Concerns continue to be voiced about the risk of bilateral simultaneous endophthalmitis, but the dominant issues have shifted to those of financing in different countries and " Catch-22" type hospital and insurer restrictions.
Conclusions:
Bilateral Cataract Surgery is rapidly increasing in surgeon and patient popularity, but economic, regulatory and insurance restrictions remain as impediments hampering growth. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE?: No
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