Posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation by ophthalmology residents. A prospective study of cataract surgery.
The UCLA Cataract Surgery Study Group evaluated extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation (ECCE-posterior chamber IOL) performed by eight senior ophthalmology residents with faculty supervision and five faculty ophthalmologists experienced in intraocular lens surgery. The first 18 consecutive ECCE-posterior chamber IOL operations performed by each resident and faculty surgeon after July 1, 1981, were analyzed. All 234 operations and follow-up conformed to a predetermined protocol. Resident surgery achieved 20/40 or better final visual acuity in 88% of eyes; faculty surgery achieved 20/40 or better in 89%. Excluding cases with macular degeneration or other pre-existing eye disease, resident surgery achieved 20/40 or better final visual acuity in 95% of eyes; faculty surgery achieved 20/40 or better in 96%. There was no statistically significant difference between the results of resident surgery and faculty surgery. With supervision, ophthalmology residents achieved results generally equivalent to results obtained by experienced ophthalmic surgeons.
D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity