High-volume cataract surgery does not mean rushing procedures. In fact, it often allows greater precision through repetition and consistency.
How Volume Supports Precision
Surgeons who perform large numbers of cataract operations benefit from executing each step predictably and smoothly. Key features of safe, high-volume practice include:
- Strict case selection and standardised surgical sequences
- Consistent equipment and machine settings
- Continuous audit of outcomes and complication rates
This reduces variability and supports reproducible outcomes across thousands of cases.
When High-Volume Surgeons Slow Down
Just as importantly, experienced surgeons recognise when to slow down or modify their approach. Complex cataracts, small pupils, or unexpected findings during surgery require additional time and adapted technique.
Surgeons at major centres such as Moorfields Eye Hospital and specialist private clinics demonstrate this balance between efficiency and adaptability. For more detail, see Is 5-Minute Cataract Surgery Really Possible?
What This Means for Patients
Workflows such as 4-Minute Phaco™, used by Mfazo Hove at Blue Fin Vision®, reflect this philosophy. Experience and refinement naturally reduce unnecessary intraocular time in suitable cases, while allowing additional time when required.
Efficiency is best understood as a marker of process maturity and surgical confidence, not as a replacement for judgement or patient-centred care.
