Sequential Bilateral Cataract

WAILEA, Hawaii — Immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery has gained increasing acceptance over the years. Safety and outcomes are within the standard of care, but strict guidelines must be followed, according to one specialist.

A time and motion study conducted at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London quantified time saving related to immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery compared with consecutive unilateral cases.

The incidence of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery remains low despite endophthalmitis and cystoid macular edema rates comparable to standard delayed surgery, according to a study.

Pediatric ophthalmologists reported more frequently performing immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery in infants and children younger than 10 years, according to a presentation at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

A large cohort study based on the IRIS Registry found that immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery was associated with worse visual outcomes as compared with delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery.

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — In this video from Cataract Surgery: Telling It Like It Is, Michael Patterson, DO, discusses drawbacks of performing immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery, including complications such as endophthalmitis.