title: Six year Trend in Cataract Surgical Techniques in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the cataract surgery techniques performed in Iran from 2000 to 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was part of the Iranian Cataract Surgery Survey (ICSS) which was a retrospective cross-sectional study. All major ocular surgery units and 10% of randomly selected minor units throughout Iran were included. Excluding the 2 week Iranian New Year holiday, 1 week per season between 2000 and 2005 (a total of 24 weeks) was selected for each center, and data on all cataract surgeries performed during these weeks were collected by reviewing patient records. The ANOVA repeated measure test was performed to determine longitudinal changes with a P<0.05 denoting statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation has become the surgical method of choice in Iran, increasing from less than 7% in 2000 to 57% in 2005 (P<0.0001). Extracapsular cataract extraction showed a reverse trend compared to phacoemulsification, decreasing from greater than 91% in 2000 to 41% in 2005 (P<0.0001). Intracapsular cataract extraction and lensectomy were rarely performed without significant changes over time (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation has become the preferred cataract surgery method in Iran during recent years.
authors: Department of Clinical Research, Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran.
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Hashemi
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Alipour
authors: Shiva
authors: S
authors: Mehravaran
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Rezvan
authors: Farshid
authors: F
authors: Alaeddini
authors: Akbar
authors: A
authors: Fotouhi