Surgery for cataract

doi:10.1136/bmj.39093.388900.80

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Christopher M Wood, clinical director and consultant ophthalmologist (Chris.wood@chs.northy.nhs.uk)

¹Eye Infirmary, Sunderland SR2 9HP

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

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. …