From The Editors - By Clive Peckar FRCS, FRCOphth

Phaco follow-up and globalisation
Food for thought

The necessity and frequency of postoperative examinations following cataract phacoemulsification continues to be hotly debated. In this issue we highlight a report, presented at ARVO,from Tinley in the UK. He abandoned the first day postoperative visit and concluded that this did not adversely affect the outcome of patients undergoing uncomplicated phacoemulsification. The report does not tell us, however, whether the patients had slit lamp examinations on the day of surgery prior to discharge. In addition, this is rather a small prospective study. It serves, however, to highlight the controversy and I would be very interested to hear the views of EuroTimes readers on this issue.

Market domination among ophthalmic companies continues to occur as part of the wider project of Globalisation. Small European pharmaceutical and instrument manufacturers run the risk of being acquired by 'superpower companies'. Whilst this may be good for the share holders, it stifles future local innovation and limits our choice as ophthalmologists. Most recently, the rumoured merger between a 'Blue Tablet American Giant' and what started as an 'Innovative Northern European Pharmaceutical Company' has hit the news. Unless we encourage and support our local companies to develop, we in Europe will lose our historic lead in ophthalmic instrument and pharmaceutical development.


Clive Peckar

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