Management of patients undergoing cataract surgery: An Italian survey

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the management of patients undergoing cataract surgery in Italy.

Setting

Italian ocular surgeons, members of the Italian Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (AICCER), were invited to participate to this survey.

Design

Participants had to respond to a questionary including a series of practical questions concerning the management of patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Methods

A designed questionnaire explored the main issues concerning the practical problems involved in managing patients undergoing cataract surgery. The questionnaire was sent by e-mail and analyzed by descriptive statistics.

Results

Preoperative prophylaxis was performed by most surgeons. After surgery, several products were used, even simultaneously. Fixed antibiotic-corticosteroid combination (87.2%; 89) and NSAIDs (88.2; 90) were chosen as the most commonly used drug classes. The average duration of prescribed post-surgical therapies was more than two weeks for 52.9% (54) of participants, two weeks for 29.4% (30), and only one week for 5.9% (6).

Conclusion

This survey confirmed a discrete adherence to the main guidelines but at the same time highlights a discrete inhomogeneity in the use of medications, duration of treatments, and follow-up visits. For this reason, it is appropriate to continue updating and implementing the guidelines and educational pathways. This thought is consistent with the Precision Medicine approach. Every patient should be carefully evaluated to determine the best medication, dosage, and duration. A Personalized Medicine strategy is used on a single patient to optimize treatment clinical efficacy while minimizing side effects.