Bds. Allan et al., CONVENTIONAL ROUTINE CLINICAL REVIEW MAY NOT BE NECESSARY AFTER UNCOMPLICATED PHACOEMULSIFICATION, British journal of ophthalmology, 81(7), 1997, pp. 548-550
Aim-To determine the clinical intervention rate during routine review
after uncomplicated phacoemulsification. Methods-A review of case note
s in 651 consecutive cases of uncomplicated phacoemulsification from 1
994 (less than or equal to 5.5 mm self sealing wound) was performed. T
he intervention rate at scheduled routine review visits and at unsched
uled visits to the eye casualty service in the first 120 postoperative
days was recorded. Interventions were defined as departures from pred
etermined postoperative care protocols. Results-Clinical interventions
were reported in 2.8% (95% confidence interval 1.5 to 4.1%) of (n = 1
652) routine follow up visits. Many of these interventions were avoida
ble or trivial; 90% of patients had no postoperative intervention at a
ny visit. 7.3% of patients made unscheduled visits to the emergency se
rvice. The intervention rate in this group was 50% (35.9 to 64.1%). Co
nclusions-The intervention rate in routine clinical review after uncom
plicated modern cataract surgery is low. Alternatives to conventional
postoperative review, including shared care with non-ophthalmologists
and improved perioperative patient education with an open channel for
self referral, should be evaluated.