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. 2021 Jan 13;6(1):e000464.
doi: 10.1136/bmjophth-2020-000464. eCollection 2021.

Cataract surgery practice patterns worldwide: a survey

Tommaso Rossi  1 , Mario R Romano  2 , Danilo Iannetta  3 , Vito Romano  4 , Luca Gualdi  5 , Isabella D'Agostino  1 , Guido Ripandelli  6
Affiliations

Cataract surgery practice patterns worldwide: a survey

Tommaso Rossi et al. BMJ Open Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Objective: To report the results of a global survey on cataract practice patterns related to preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care, surgical setting and personnel allocation.

Methods and analysis: An online 28 questions survey was sent to 240 ophthalmologists asking to describe prevailing trends in their institutions across 38 countries and 5 continents. Questions inquired country, institution, surgical volume and setting, anaesthesia, preoperative and intraoperative examination and postsurgical care. Statistical analysis used crosstabs lambda statistics for non-parametric nominal variables. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: 209/240 (87%) ophthalmologists responded: 38% representing public hospitals, 36% private practices and 26% academic sites; overall surgical volume was between 241 700 and 410 500 cataracts per year. There was a significant correlation between type of institution and surgical volume. Complete results available in online (https://freeonlinesurveys.com/r/W6BcLLxy).

Conclusion: Cataract surgery related patterns of perioperative care showed significant difference among respondents, regardless to type of institution, surgical volume and country. Many evidence-based procedures are unevenly practiced around the world and some widespread and expensive habits lack solid scientific evidence while consuming enormous amount of resources both monetary and human. There is a need to reach consensus and share evidence-based practice patterns.

Keywords: epidemiology; lens and zonules; public health; treatment surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Survey geographic coverage. All countries in blue had one respondent except countries where the number of respondents is reported on the map. Italy had 83 responders and Japan 51.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Systemic testing routinely performed for each cataract surgery by responders. Note percentages add up to more than 100% since multiple answers were allowed.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Number of drugs routinely prescribed as pre-op prophylaxis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Ocular diagnostics routinely performed for each cataract surgery by responders. Note percentages add up to more than 100% since multiple answers were allowed.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Sterility management: materials changed every single surgery. Note percentages add up to more than 100% since multiple answers were allowed.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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