Judging cataract surgery by minutes alone ignores what truly defines quality: visual outcomes, complication rates, endothelial preservation, and patient experience.
Operative time is meaningful only when interpreted alongside these outcomes. Efficient surgery can be excellent; slow surgery can still be unsafe.
What this means for you
- Prioritise audited outcome data over marketing claims
- Ask for transparent reporting
Question to ask
- “Can you share audited data on visual outcomes, posterior capsule rupture, and endothelial health?”
References
- Berwick DM. Measuring quality of health care. JAMA. 2002;287(5):2457–2463.
- Johnston RL, Sparrow JM, Canning CR, et al. Patient outcomes following cataract surgery in the UK: the role of national audit. Eye (London). 2009;23(1):38–49.
