Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures worldwide. It is highly successful and brings about visual restoration, improved cognitive function and quality of life. The ageing population means a higher demand for cataract surgery. This together with as yet unresolved pandemic backlog poses a huge challenge to healthcare systems including the Hospital Authority.
How can we address this challenge to provide timely care, improved throughput with minimal increase in resources, safeguard quality and safety and at the same time protect surgical training and not cause fatigue to staff?
We examine what takes up time in operating sessions. Pure cataract surgery lists, cutting down turnover time, reducing redundant steps, and have patients self-prepare for surgery can all help. Teamwork and trust in the team, clear division of labour, pooled waiting list, can all improve throughput to a minimum of two routine cases or equivalent per hour. A change of mindset is necessary to allow the above to take place.
We will explore concepts of risk stratification, graded training, immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS), conditional probability, cataract surgery by appointment, and doing without Day 1, Week 1 and Week 4 post-operative follow-up.
