[Survey of the necessary follow-up examinations after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate which the minimum number of postoperative examinations after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery is needed to assure an appropriate follow-up schedule. We evaluated the number of patients that were excluded from the postoperative follow-up schedule and their causes.


METHODS
A prospective study was performed on 120 eyes (106 patients), that were randomised in two groups: one with two follow-up visits (first day and one month) and another with three postoperative visits (first day, one week and one month).


RESULTS
Fifteen eyes (12.5%) were excluded from the postoperative visits regime: 11 cases (18.9%) in the group of two visits and 4 cases (6.45%) in the group of three visits. In 10 cases (8.33%) the patient excluded himself from the schedule. The most frequent causes were: doubts about the outdoor activity that could be done, trauma, or complaints about the topical medications. Only in 6 cases they came to the clinic. No further complications were detected in the group of 2 examinations as compared with the other group.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the number of patients who left the follow-up schedule as well as the number of complications observed, it appears that in most instances 2 postoperative examinations may be appropriate enough.
Montañés
J M
JM
Departamento de Oftalmología, Clínica Universitaria de Navarra, 31080 Pamplona, Spain. jmoreno@unav.es
Pérez De Madrid
D A
DA
Layana
A G
AG
Gil
J M
JM
López
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors