Cataract extraction: patient characteristics and preferences

This paper reports the results of a comparative study of inpatient and day case patients undergoing a cataract extraction with intraocular lens implant. An assessment was made of their home circumstances, and included questions about their health and hobbies before and after surgery. The results show that patients were generally optimistic about their capabilities after the operation, and that most were pleased to have been randomly allocated to their particular group. There were no statistically significant differences between day cases and inpatients, suggesting a possibility of choice for patients within available resources.