PURPOSE: To reduce the number of patients who perceive more difficulties performing daily life activities 6 months after cataract extraction than before surgery. SETTING: Surgeons at 4 surgical units participating in the yearly outcome studies organized by the Swedish National Cataract Register. METHODS: This study comprised surgical outcomes data and completed Catquest results before and after surgery collected from consecutive patients during a 1-month period yearly since 1995. The reasons for a no-benefit outcome from 1995 to 1997 were identified. During the 1-month study period in 1999, a strategy was launched to reduce postoperative anisometropia and disturbances from cataract in the fellow eye through better surgical planning. RESULTS: The percentage of patients with a no-benefit outcome who had anisometropia or cataract in the fellow eye as a probable reason for the outcome decreased from 27.3% and 13.0%, respectively, in the 1995 to 1997 study to 10.5% and 10.5%, respectively, in the 1999 study. Other reasons for a no-benefit outcome such as ocular co-morbidity or few preoperative problems increased in frequency, presumably as a result of a change in case mix. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy to reduce the number of patients perceiving more difficulties in performing daily life activities after cataract extraction than before surgery was tested. The number of patients with reasons for a poor outcome that the study focused on was reduced. Patients who gave reasons for a poor outcome other than anisometropia or cataract in the fellow eye increased in frequency, probably as a result of a change in case mix.
PURPOSE: To reduce the number of patients who perceive more difficulties performing daily life activities 6 months after cataract extraction than before surgery. SETTING: Surgeons at 4 surgical units participating in the yearly outcome studies organized by the Swedish National Cataract Register. METHODS: This study comprised surgical outcomes data and completed Catquest results before and after surgery collected from consecutive patients during a 1-month period yearly since 1995. The reasons for a no-benefit outcome from 1995 to 1997 were identified. During the 1-month study period in 1999, a strategy was launched to reduce postoperative anisometropia and disturbances from cataract in the fellow eye through better surgical planning. RESULTS: The percentage of patients with a no-benefit outcome who had anisometropia or cataract in the fellow eye as a probable reason for the outcome decreased from 27.3% and 13.0%, respectively, in the 1995 to 1997 study to 10.5% and 10.5%, respectively, in the 1999 study. Other reasons for a no-benefit outcome such as ocular co-morbidity or few preoperative problems increased in frequency, presumably as a result of a change in case mix. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy to reduce the number of patients perceiving more difficulties in performing daily life activities after cataract extraction than before surgery was tested. The number of patients with reasons for a poor outcome that the study focused on was reduced. Patients who gave reasons for a poor outcome other than anisometropia or cataract in the fellow eye increased in frequency, probably as a result of a change in case mix.