Short intraocular time is typically a marker of experience and consistency, not haste. Surgeons who operate frequently refine hand movements, anticipate tissue behaviour, and transition smoothly between steps, reducing unnecessary manipulation inside the eye.
Efficiency arises from deliberate practice, standardised workflows, and anticipation of complications. Learning-curve studies demonstrate that complication rates fall as surgeons gain experience — even as operative time shortens. Fewer corrective actions are needed because fewer problems arise.
In this context, efficiency reflects mastery: less time inside the eye because surgery proceeds predictably, not because steps are skipped.
What this means for you
- Surgeon experience and case selection matter more than minutes alone
- Look for evidence of audited outcomes and volume
Question to ask
- “How many cataract cases do you perform per year, and what are your complication and enhancement rates?”
References
- Narendran N, Jaycock P, Johnston RL, et al. The Cataract National Dataset electronic multicentre audit of 55,567 operations: assessing surgeon performance using complication rates. Eye (London). 2009;23(12):2326–2334.
- Ericsson KA. Deliberate practice and the acquisition of expert performance: a general overview. Psychological Review. 1993;100(3):363–406.
