Risk-Stratified Postoperative Follow-Up After Uncomplicated Cataract Surgery: Real-World Outcomes and Implications...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Phacoemulsification is a common cataract surgery.
• Postoperative follow-up protocols are resource-intensive.
• Optimizing follow-up pathways is crucial for efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical value of 24-hour and 30-day postoperative examinations after uncomplicated phacoemulsification.
• To identify patient subgroups suitable for remote or simplified follow-up.
• To evaluate the impact of a risk-stratified follow-up model.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study of 296 patients undergoing uncomplicated phacoemulsification.
• Data extraction included demographics, surgical details, and postoperative outcomes.
• Multivariate logistic regression analyzed predictors of 30-day complications.

Main Results:

• 20.9% of patients had findings at day 1, with 14.2% requiring unplanned reassessment.
• 6.7% experienced complications by 30 days, primarily cystoid macular edema.
• 24-hour complications and ophthalmologic comorbidities predicted 30-day adverse outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A risk-stratified model can safely reduce routine 30-day follow-up visits by approximately 50%.
• Low-risk patients can be monitored remotely without compromising outcomes.
• This approach enhances efficiency in high-volume public hospitals and may be transferable to other systems.