Immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery importance during the COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Innovation
• Health Economics

Background:

• Cataract surgery is a common procedure worldwide.
• Bilateral cataract surgery enhances vision and quality of life.
• Current standard is delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and costs of immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) versus DSBCS.
• To assess ISBCS as a strategy to minimize hospital visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To highlight the benefits of ISBCS for patient recovery and healthcare systems.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of ISBCS and DSBCS.
• Review of recent studies on complication rates and outcomes.
• Adherence to established protocols, such as those from the International Society of Bilateral Cataract Surgeons.

Main Results:

• ISBCS demonstrates advantages in reduced costs and faster visual rehabilitation.
• The risk of simultaneous bilateral complications is minimal with modern protocols and intracameral antibiotics.
• Advanced biometry and lens calculations minimize refractive errors.

Conclusions:

• ISBCS is a safe and effective alternative to DSBCS.
• ISBCS improves patient quality of life and offers economic benefits.
• Strict adherence to protocols ensures favorable outcomes in bilateral cataract surgery.