title: Is an ophthalmic check-up needed after uneventful cataract surgery? A large retrospective comparative cohort study of Finnish patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate retrospectively the potential benefit of a routine 1-month ophthalmic check-up after cataract surgery, and the potential harm after terminating this practice and only organizing a check-up for those patients anticipated to need such.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2006, cataract patients of the Oulu University Hospital Eye Clinic were advised to have a check-up at an ophthalmologist 1 month after uneventful surgery, while in 2009, no check-up was regarded necessary. The consecutive first 1000 cataract surgery visits in both 2006 and 2009 are included in this study. Data on intra- and postoperative complications, ocular comorbidity, planned and unplanned postoperative out-patient visits, nights in the hospital and phone calls were gathered until 2014. In both time periods, a hospital check-up was provided for patients experiencing complications or symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 31 complications identified during or immediately after cataract surgery in 2006, and 23 in 2009. Fifty-eight (2006) and 27 patients (2009) were assigned an out-patient visit to the hospital. Additional 42 (2006) and 39 patients (2009) contacted the hospital because of symptoms, five (2006) and three (2009) with a referral. Medical or surgical intervention was needed by a third. Long-term complications other than secondary cataract were rare in both groups. Problems attributable to the lack of a 1-month check-up were not found in the later patient group during 5 years of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this study, ophthalmic check-up arranged at 1 month after uneventful cataract surgery is unnecessary. However, the 5-10% of patients with intraoperative problems or ocular comorbidities that could interfere with recovery, or postoperative symptoms, should be seen at low threshold.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center, Oulu University and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Hannakaisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eloranta
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center, Oulu University and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Aura
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits; D010045:Outpatients; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cataract; cataract surgery; check-up; complication; phacoemulsification