Practice Of Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery Since Covid-19: The Sheffield Experience

Utilisation of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) has been encouraged since COVID-19 in line with the recommendations of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. This study aims to evaluate pre-, intra- and post-operative outcomes from the ISBCS cohort in our institution.

Ophthalmology Department of Sheffield Teaching Hospital in United Kingdom

Of 3402 cataract surgeries performed between July 2020 and July 2021 (1 year since the reopening of the cataract service from COVID-19 in our institution), 208 eyes of 104 patients (6.1% of the total cataract caseload) (mean age: 74.5±9.4 years; 62% females) undergoing ISBCS were retrospectively studied on their demographics, biometry, surgeon grades, and pre-, intra- and post-operative data.

89% of the eyes were performed under local anaesthetics and 69% were ‘routine’ cases. Other risk factors included: short eye requiring pre-operative mannitol (10%), high myopia (8%), angle closure (3%) and prior trabeculectomy (1%). 3 eyes had intra-operative complications in second eyes only with one posterior capsule rupture. 23 eyes (11%) had recorded post-operative complications with cystoid macular oedema being the commonest (5%) and no endophthalmitis. 86% were discharged with satisfaction. 141 (89% of the first eyes) and 67 (53% of the second eyes) eyes were performed by consultants and trainee registrars respectively, comparing of which, no significant differences were found in pre-, intra- and post-operative features (p>0.05).

Our experience which includes a cohort of high-risk patients shows a safe and successful practice of ISBCS without having a negative impact on training.