Ophthalmic day case surgery: the role of a dedicated day case unit

A study was undertaken to examine all cases admitted to a new ophthalmic surgical day case unit during its first six months of operation. This paper describes the experience gained in establishing the unit, including operational management, and outlines the factors contributing to the unit's success. A quarter of the patients usually admitted as inpatients have been treated in the day unit, and day case surgery rarely results in unplanned inpatient admission, or subsequent readmission. Provided strict admission criteria are followed, the results show that this facility can accommodate a wide range of common ophthalmological procedures, and that general anaesthesia is compatible with day case management.