Intraocular lens surgery on a resident's service

Twenty-three patients had intraocular lens surgery performed by eight separate ophthalmology residents over an eighteen month period of time. Adequate technical results were achieved in 19 of the 23 cases. Three patients had visual complications directly related to the intraocular lens surgery: two with bullous keratopathy and one with cystoid macular edema. By restricting surgical indications to older patients with good vision in the fellow eye and using general anesthesia in conjunction with the operating microscope, osmotic agents, intracapsular surgery, and close operative supervision, it is hoped that results will justify continued use of intraocular lenses on our resident's service.