Quality assessment of cataract surgery results

Ingrid P. Urrutia-Breton, Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Juárez de México, Mexico City, Mexico
María M. Fabila-Maya, Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Juárez del Centro, Mexico City, Mexico
Martha C. Fuentes-Cataño, Servicio de Oftalmología, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Dr. Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Mexico City, Mexico
Diana F. Jiménez-Rosas, Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Mexico City, Mexico
Olga M. Messina-Baas, Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Mexico City, Mexico
Eva E. Mundo-Fernández, Subdirección de Oftalmología, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Dr. Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Mexico City, Mexico
Orlando D. Quintanar-Haro, Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Juárez del Centro, Mexico City, Mexico
Virgilio Lima-Gómez, Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Juárez de México, Mexico City, Mexico

Evaluation of quality in cataract surgery requires more than finding any improvement in vision. The first variable to analyze is post-operative corrected visual acuity, which should allow the patient to conduct daily activities. Provided that this visual acuity is good, other factors like post-operative recovery time, quality of life, and economic evaluations may help to improve the quality of cataract surgery. These topics require evaluation both in centers with a low volume of surgeries, and in surgical campaigns that cover many patients. This document highlights relevant aspects of the referred variables, and deals with the opportunity of setting quality indicators, which would allow the generation of continuous information for improving quality in cataract surgery.

Keywords: Best corrected visual acuity. Cataract. Cataract surgery. Phacoemulsification. Quality. Quality of life.