title: Phacoemulsification during the learning curve: risk/benefit analysis.
abstract: To assess prospectively the complications and outcomes in a single-surgeon series during the phacoemulsification learning curve a prospective analysis of 400 phacoemulsification procedures in 358 patients was carried out. The main outcome measures were capsular tear, vitreous and nuclear loss, best corrected post-operative visual acuity and refractive cylinder. Capsular tears occurred in 6.3% of phacoemulsification procedures, with vitreous loss in 1.5%. One nucleus was lost into the vitreous. Best corrected visual acuity, including pre-existing pathology, was 6/9 or better in 83.6% of eyes. There was 1 dioptre or less change of astigmatism from pre-operative to 6 weeks in 91% of eyes. It is concluded that phacoemulsification with careful patient selection can be a safe procedure even during the learning curve.
authors.affiliation: Croydon Eye Unit, Thornton Health, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Seward
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity