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Tips offered for patients considering cataract surgery in ASC

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WILMETTE, Ill. — Patients should bear in mind certain key factors when considering undergoing cataract surgery in an ASC, according to an ASC research organization.

In a press release, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care’s Institute for Quality Improvement offered five tips for patients planning to have cataract surgery. These suggestions were based on the group’s recently completed study of “best practices” for cataract/IOL surgery in an ASC. The suggestion are as follows.

The patient should ask for a pre-procedure consultation.

The patient should review his or her medical history for accuracy before the procedure.

The patient should discuss with the surgeon the possibility of pain or discomfort as a result of the surgery.

The patient should understand what constitutes a “normal surgical outcome.” According to data collected by the AAAHC Institute, about 98% of cataract patients reported that their vision had improved within 2 weeks of surgery.

The patient should get written instructions before they leave the ASC. These instructions should include information about the length of time it takes to realize a change in vision and a description of conditions that may require a follow-up visit to the physician’s office.

The association collected data between May and September 2004 from 71 ambulatory surgery organizations, representing 1,724 cases. The number of cataract surgeries performed by the participants yearly ranged from 200 to 8,777. Results are published in the group’s report, Cataract Extraction with Lens Insertion.