Strategy to reduce the number of patients perceiving impaired visual function after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE

To reduce the number of patients who perceive more difficulties performing daily life activities 6 months after cataract extraction than before surgery.

SETTING

Surgeons at 4 surgical units participating in the yearly outcome studies organized by the Swedish National Cataract Register.

METHODS

This study comprised surgical outcomes data and completed Catquest results before and after surgery collected from consecutive patients during a 1-month period yearly since 1995. The reasons for a no-benefit outcome from 1995 to 1997 were identified. During the 1-month study period in 1999, a strategy was launched to reduce postoperative anisometropia and disturbances from cataract in the fellow eye through better surgical planning.

RESULTS

The percentage of patients with a no-benefit outcome who had anisometropia or cataract in the fellow eye as a probable reason for the outcome decreased from 27.3% and 13.0%, respectively, in the 1995 to 1997 study to 10.5% and 10.5%, respectively, in the 1999 study. Other reasons for a no-benefit outcome such as ocular co-morbidity or few preoperative problems increased in frequency, presumably as a result of a change in case mix.

CONCLUSIONS

A strategy to reduce the number of patients perceiving more difficulties in performing daily life activities after cataract extraction than before surgery was tested. The number of patients with reasons for a poor outcome that the study focused on was reduced. Patients who gave reasons for a poor outcome other than anisometropia or cataract in the fellow eye increased in frequency, probably as a result of a change in case mix.