title: Resource management of cataract patients: effect of four contemporary incisions on postoperative visits required.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of four contemporary cataract surgery incisions on the number of postoperative visits required.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cataract service of a large free-standing eye hospital in a capital city.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised a prospective evaluation of three incisions for phacoemulsification and a retrospective assessment of age- and sex-matched patients having conventional corneal section extracapsular cataract extraction. All patients had age-related cataract. Main outcome measures were complications, best corrected and uncorrected visual acuities 6 weeks after surgery, and number of visits before discharge. Follow-up was at least 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who had small and scleral incisions had better uncorrected visual acuities 6 weeks postoperatively because they had less astigmatism. Patients who had small and scleral incisions required significantly fewer postoperative visits before discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A prospective assessment of the feasibility and acceptability of reduced postoperative follow-up after phacoemulsification using a scleral tunnel is required.
authors.affiliation: Moorfields Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Claoué
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014792:Visual Acuity