BMJ  2007;334:107 (20 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.39093.388900.80

Editorials

Surgery for cataract

Reorganisation of in-house services is an efficient way to improve quality and increase volume

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Cataract is the most common cause of visual impairment throughout the world.¹ In the United Kingdom the prevalence of visually significant cataract is 30% in people over the age of 65.² Modern cataract surgery rapidly improves vision, can be performed as a day case procedure, and has a low rate of complications. The demand for cataract surgery in the UK exceeds its availability, and the best way to organise services to meet the demand is unclear. In this week's BMJ a study by Tey and colleagues reports on how reorganisation of their existing National Health Service ophthalmic service increased the quality and volume of cataract surgery.³

The demand for cataract operations has increased, and the number of procedures performed annually in the UK increased by 50% between 1990 and 1997.⁴ However, the rate of cataract surgery for older people in the UK remained disproportionately low. In 1997 it was still . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Eye Infirmary, Sunderland SR2 9HP

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Black, N, Browne, J, van der Meulen, J, Jamieson, L, Copley, L, Lewsey, J (2009). Is there overutilisation of cataract surgery in England?. Br J Ophthalmol 93: 13-17 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

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You mean blindness not visual impairment

Keith Masnick
bmj.com, 20 Jan 2007 [Full text]

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