Omitting The One Month Post Cataract Surgery Visit - Is It Safe?

Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PO814 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/gkac-1w14

Authors: Rahat Husain* ¹ , Duke Ang ² , Julie Yeong ³ , Crystal Lee ³ , Zoe Poh ³ , Farah Ibrahim ¹

¹Singapore National Eye Centre,Singapore,Singapore;Singapore Eye Research Institute,Singapore,Singapore, ²Singapore National Eye Centre,singapore,Singapore, ³Singapore National Eye Centre,Singapore,Singapore

Purpose

To determine if replacing the post cataract surgery 1 month visit at the hospital eye service (HES) with a visit at the community optomtetrist (without examination at slit lamp) is safe and acceptable to patients

Setting

Hospital eye clinic and community optometrist

Methods

Patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification and who had a normal day 1 examination at the HES (by an ophthalmologist), were seen at 3-5 weeks by a community optometrist. There, they would have refraction, IOP measuremnt and be asked 5 "yes/no" questions on their symptoms. Optomterists would record their findings on a form and send this form to the HES. If BCVA was 6/12 or better, IOP was <24mmHg and patients answered "no' to all 5 questions (i.e. were asymptomatic), the optomtrist was to tick on the form that the patient need not be seen at the HES . All patients were then seen at week 6 by an ophthalmologist at the HES. The findings at the 6 week visit were then compared to the form. Patients also completed a feedback form.

Results

60 patients were recruited. The optometrists made the correct decsion (refer/not refer) in 51/60 (85%) of patients. Of the 9 patients in whom the incorrect decsion was made, 4 forms had no tick in either box and 1 patient was referred when they should not have been. Of the remaining 4 patients who should have been referred but weren't, 2 had experienced an increase in floaters, 1 had BCVA 6/12 and 1 patient was not happy with the results of the surgery. All patients seen at 6 weeks by the HES opthalmologist were fine, with good vision and no ocular pathology. 94% of patients were satisfied or highly satisfied with the servcie and 91% would use this service again.

Conclusions

For selected patients, a visit at day 1 at the HES followed by a 1 month visit at the community optometrist for refraction, IOP measurement and short questionaire on symptoms, was safe (no slit lamp examination was necessary). The results form completed by the optometrist needs to be re-designed to make it easier.