title: Prospective analysis of outcomes and economic factors of same-day bilateral cataract surgery in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the visual and economic benefits of same-day bilateral cataract surgery versus separate-day bilateral cataract surgery in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private practice, Amarillo, Texas, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled nonrandomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of patients having same-day bilateral cataract surgery was age-matched with a cohort of control patients who had standard separate-day bilateral cataract surgery. The primary outcome was a comparison of the direct cost for the patient, physician, ambulatory surgery center (ASC), and third-party payer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The same-day cohort (42 patients, 84 eyes) had similar baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes as the control cohort (42 patients, 84 eyes). The same-day cohort had less total distance traveled for care (P = .0039 and P < .0001 for in-town and out-of-town residents, respectively), less total time spent traveling for care (P = .0008 and P < .0001 for in-town and out-of-town residents, respectively), less total number of visits required for care (P < .0001), and less total time for vision recovery (P < .0001) than the control cohort. The physician and ASC reimbursements were lower in the same-day cohort (P = .0028 and P = .0016, respectively), whereas the total physician time spent caring for the patient in surgery was not different between the 2 groups (P = .7310). The total ASC expenses were higher in the same-day cohort (P < .0001). The total third-party payer cost was significantly less in the same-day cohort (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visual and economic benefits for the patient can be achieved with same-day bilateral cataract surgery in the U.S. at the present time.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
authors.affiliation: From the Panhandle Eye Group (S.W. Rush, Gerald, Smith, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (S.W. Rush, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), and Southwest Retina Specialists (R.B. Rush), Amarillo, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Sloan W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.affiliation: From the Panhandle Eye Group (S.W. Rush, Gerald, Smith, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (S.W. Rush, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), and Southwest Retina Specialists (R.B. Rush), Amarillo, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gerald
authors.affiliation: From the Panhandle Eye Group (S.W. Rush, Gerald, Smith, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (S.W. Rush, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), and Southwest Retina Specialists (R.B. Rush), Amarillo, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: From the Panhandle Eye Group (S.W. Rush, Gerald, Smith, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (S.W. Rush, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), and Southwest Retina Specialists (R.B. Rush), Amarillo, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: J Avery
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.affiliation: From the Panhandle Eye Group (S.W. Rush, Gerald, Smith, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (S.W. Rush, J.A. Rush, R.B. Rush), and Southwest Retina Specialists (R.B. Rush), Amarillo, Texas, USA. Electronic address: ryanbradfordrush21@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ryan B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Rush
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004467:Economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000191:economics*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology