[Value of first-day postoperative visit after cataract surgery].
BACKGROUND
In France in 2009, newly operated patients after cataract surgery are usually seen by their surgeon the day after surgery (D1). The value of this day-after visit has been undergoing reassessment for some years, but this visit remains in widespread use in France. The aim of this study was to assess whether this visit changes patient management.


METHODS
One hundred three consecutive patients (106 eyes) undergoing cataract surgery by phacoemulsification were prospectively treated in our department (82% were outpatients). All intraoperative events were noted. The day after surgery, we monitored ocular tension, the anterior segment, and the fundus. Every change in the postoperative prescription compared with a standard prescription was noted.


RESULTS
Intraoperative complications occurred in eight cases. On D1, six patients had ocular hypertension that exceeded 24 mmHg, 14 had a corneal edema, six had corneal erosion, two had a Seidel, one had an anterior subluxation of the IOL, and one had retinal detachment. In 26 cases (24.5%), the prescription was changed compared to our standard prescription.


CONCLUSIONS
Several studies have shown that the day-after-surgery visit was not mandatory. The main objective of this visit is to check for ocular hypertension. More rarely, it can detect a Seidel in front of the wound, incorrect position of the IOL, retinal detachment, or other complications that may require surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The day-after-surgery visit remains necessary after phacoemulsification because complications, sometimes unpredictable, can occur and compromise the result of surgery. This visit also has an educational value (to reiterate to the patients the symptoms that would require an emergency visit).
Tilleul
J
J
Service d'Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Université Paris XIII, Bobigny, France. julien.tilleul@free.fr
Tiberghien
E
E
Renard
G
G
Rohart
C
C
Nghiem-Buffet
S
S
Fajnkuchen
F
F
Chaine
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003663:Decision Trees; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents