The fourth New Zealand cataract and refractive surgery survey: 2007

To examine the current practice and changing trends for cataract and refractive surgery in New Zealand (NZ) between 1997 and 2007.

A self-administered confidential postal questionnaire was sent to all consultant ophthalmologists practising in NZ in 2007, eliciting surgical volumes and technique, anaesthetic, preferred equipment and patient management. Results were compared with previous NZ surveys and international surveys of surgeons in Northern America, Europe and the UK.

From the 113 ophthalmologists surveyed 88% responded, comprising 86 cataract surgeons and 20 refractive surgeons. Key findings for cataract surgeons were: 65% routinely used sub-Tenon's anaesthetic, 20% topical anaesthetic, 24% favoured intracameral antibiotics, 88% operated via clear corneal or anterior limbal incisions and 61% used temporal incisions. Acrylic foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) were preferred, 27% of surgeons routinely used aspheric IOLs, 31% used presbyopia-correcting IOLs and 63% expressed high interest in toric IOLs. Of the refractive surgeons, 83% would perform bilateral LASIK at the same surgical event; phakic IOL was the treatment of choice for 30-year-old -12D myopes, and clear lens exchange for 45-year-old +5D hyperopes.

The majority of NZ cataract surgical practice remains comparable with results from international surveys. A notable exception, as in previous comparisons, is a lower use of topical anaesthetic in NZ with a higher use of sub-Tenon's anaesthetic instead. Refractive surgery practice in NZ is generally comparable with that of American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery members.