Clinical Ophthalmology (May 2023)
Timing of the Initial Postoperative Care After Cataract Surgery: A Patient’s Perspective
Abstract
Sloan W Rush,1,2 Samuel Huseman,1,2 Ryan B Rush2,3 1Panhandle Eye Group, Amarillo, TX, USA; 2Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Amarillo, TX, USA; 3Southwest Retina Specialists, Amarillo, TX, USACorrespondence: Ryan B Rush, Southwest Retina Specialists, 7411 Wallace Blvd, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA, Tel +1 806 351-1870, Email [email protected]: To evaluate patient preferences in regards to the timing of the initial postoperative examination after undergoing cataract surgery.Methods: A retrospective, consecutive case series analysis from a single private practice institution was performed using a standardized phone survey on patients who underwent cataract surgery. Subjects were classified into one of two possible study groups according to the timing of their initial postoperative cataract surgery examination: Group A received the initial postoperative cataract surgery examination on the same day as the surgery, whereas Group B received the initial postoperative cataract surgery examination on the day following the operation.Results: There were 80 subjects contacted for the phone survey of which 70 (35 in each study group) completed the survey and therefore were included in the analysis. Group A subjects responded favorably in regards to preference and realizing reduced time and cost savings compared to Group B (p < 0.0001 for both). There were no subjects in Group A who would have preferred next-day initial postoperative care, whereas 31.4% of subjects in Group B would have preferred same-day care if given the opportunity.Conclusion: Patients undergoing cataract surgery both prefer and report time and cost savings with same-day initial postoperative care compared to next-day initial postoperative care. Patient preferences regarding their postoperative care should be one of the many factors that a surgeon ought to take into consideration when providing follow-up care after cataract surgery.Keywords: postoperative cataract surgery care, patient desirability
