Variation in Cataract Surgery Practice and Clinical Outcomes

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the variations of the clinical outcomes of cataract surgery according to the characteristics of patients and surgeons and surgical technique. METHODS: The survey was conducted at 4 stages preoperative period(389), perioperative period(344, 88.4%), postoperative 3~4 months(343, 88.2%), and postoperative 12 months(281, 72.2%). RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of surgery was performed by phacoemulsification and 14% by standard extracapsular (ECCE) techniques. The performance of phacoemulsification was associated with years of practice(11 years or more) and annual volume of cataract surgery(201 cases or more). The reported occurrence of posterior capsular opacification within 12 months of surgery was decreased in the patients operated by surgeons with years of practice(11 years or more). CONCLUSIONS: The factors influencing to better outcomes at 12 months after surgery were visual acuity of baseline operated eye(20/200 or less) and the absence of ocular morbidity. In this study, although there were some variations with cataract surgery practice, but the variations with cataract surgery practice did 434not give much influence to the patient's outcomes.