ESCRS creates databases for cataract and refractive surgery outcomes

LISBON, Portugal — Two new databases designed to allow surgeons to record, audit and confidentially compare their cataract and refractive surgery outcomes were announced here.

“The purpose of this project is to reflect the outcome in routine care and form a basis for improvement and benchmarking,” said Mats Lundström, MD, at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting. The analysis of these data will also provide “useful information for patients, authorities and media,” he pointed out.

Emanuel Rosen, FRCOphth, added that this new effort by ESCRS will promote the standardization of protocols, methods and evaluation systems.

“If we want to achieve reliable conclusions and improve our results, we need to standardize the data and compare like with like, and not apples with oranges,” Mr. Rosen said.

I. Howard Fine, MD, advocated the involvement of U.S. ophthalmologists in the project.

“Ophthalmology is global, the [American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery] and ESCRS are sister societies, and we should therefore share the same data,” Dr. Fine said. “By combining our studies, we can also share some of the costs involved. We should remember that the world is never going to be better than we are willing to work to make it, and only through our joint efforts and cooperation can we make the best for our patients”.

Details about the program can be obtained from the ESCRS.