Comparison Between Objective And Subjective Assessment Of The Duration Of Cataract Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: : To compare the duration of cataract surgery with its self-assessment by patients.

Methods: : Prospective study of 359 uncomplicated cases of phacoemulsification performed under topical anesthesia on 277 patients in an university hospital eye clinic. Procedures were clocked by operating room nurses from the onset of the illumination of the eye under the operating microscope until the removal of drapes. Immediately afterwards, patients were asked to self-assess as precisely as possible their impression regarding the duration of their surgery. Factors influencing the duration of the surgery or its assessment by patients were analyzed.

Results: : 359 cases (277 patients, mean age 73.4 ± 9.2 years) were included, of which 203 were first and 156 were second eye procedures. The mean duration of surgery was 15.0 ± 5.7 minutes, whereas the mean of its self-assessment by patients was 15.9 ± 7.2 minutes (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.485, P=0.0001). Procedures performed by seniors [259 (72%) cases] were significantly shorter than those performed by fellows [32 (9%) cases] or by residents [68 (19%) cases]. Procedures were longer in older patients. No sensation was reported in 106 (29.5 %) cases, a touch sensation in 146 (40.7%) cases, moderate pain in 91 (25.4%) cases, severe pain in 14 (3.9%) cases and unbearable pain in 2 (0,6%) cases. The perception of pain was correlated to the duration of procedures.

Conclusions: : Most patients accurately assessed the duration of their surgery. Emotions associated with eye surgery under topical anesthesia did not hinder patients’ perception of time.

Keywords: cataract • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques • training/teaching cataract surgery