DISCHARGING ROUTINE PHACOEMULSIFICATION PATIENTS AT ONE WEEK

The reduction of surgically induced astigmatism and rapid refractive s tabilisation after phacoemulsification have been well studied and ofte n lead to reduced follow-up, Ln this prospective study we reviewed a c ohort of 100 patients discharged with a refractive prescription at the ir 1 week post-operative appointment following routine sutureless phac oemulsification through a corneal or scleral section, The aim was to a ssess the incidence of late pathology and need for review. Eighty-eigh t patients attended for review between 3 and 4 months post-operatively , of whom 8 (9.1%) who had been symptomatic had already visited ophtha lmic casualty. Nine (10.2%) benefited from the follow-up appointment: 4 were given a new refractive prescription that increased their Snelle n visual acuity by 1 line; the other 5 were all symptomatic or had inc idental findings. We feel that provided there is easy access to the ey e department, early discharge with or without refraction is justifiabl e as those with surgically related pathology at any stage are symptoma tic.