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Background/aims: Preschool screening for amblyopia has controversially been abandoned in some localities within the United Kingdom, on the basis that there is no clear evidence of benefit to support its [...]

Aims: To report risk factors for visual acuity (VA) improvement and harm following cataract surgery using electronically collected multi-centre data conforming to the Cataract National Dataset (CND).Methods: Routinely collected anonymised data were remotely extracted from the electronic patient record systems of 12 participating NHS Trusts undertaking cataract surgery. Following data checks and cleaning, analyses were performed to identify risk indicators for: (1) a good acuity outcome (VA 6/12 or better), (2) the pre- to postoperative change in VA, and (3) VA loss (doubling or worse of the visual angle).Results: In all, 406 surgeons from 12 NHS Trusts submitted data on 55,567 cataract operations. Preoperative VA was known for 55,528 (99.9%) and postoperative VA outcome for 40,758 (73.3%) operations. Important adverse preoperative risk indicators found in at least 2 of the 3 analyses included older age (3), short axial length (3), any ocular comorbidity (3), age-related macular degeneration (2), diabetic retinopathy (3), amblyopia (2), corneal pathology (2), previous vitrectomy (2), and posterior capsule rupture (PCR) during surgery (3). PCR was the only potentially modifiable adverse risk indicator and was powerfully associated with VA loss (OR=5.74).Conclusion: Routinely collected electronic data conforming to the CND provide sufficient detail for identification and quantification of preoperative risk indicators for VA outcomes of cataract surgery. The majority of risk indicators are intrinsic to the patient or their eye, with a notable exception being PCR during surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To demonstrate variations in posterior capsule rupture (PCR) rate between surgeons of the same and different grades as a by-product of routine clinical care. Method: NHS departments using electronic medical record (EMR) systems to collect the Cataract National Dataset (CND) were invited to submit data. Data were remotely extracted, anonymised, assessed for conformity and completeness, and analysed for rates of PCR for individual surgeons within each of the three grades. Results: Data were extracted on 55,567 cataract operations performed at 12 NHS trusts by 406 surgeons between November 2001 and July 2006. Data on the grade of 404 of the 406 surgeons who contributed to the study were available for 55,515 cases (99.9%) and were used for this analysis. Variation in PCR rate between surgeons was highest for the most junior grade of surgeon and between those surgeons contributing relatively few cases to the data set. Variation in PCR was lowest among experienced surgeons contributing large numbers of cases to the data set. Conclusions: Considerable variation in PCR rate exists both between and within surgical grades. Routine electronic collection of the CND allows detailed analysis of variations in PCR rates between individual surgeons. To define acceptable limits for this benchmark complication of cataract surgery, further work is needed to adjust surgeons' outcomes for the case mix complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Calculation of intraocular lens (IOL) power for implantation during cataract surgery depends on ocular biometric measurements. The aim of this study was to characterise the normal range of intra- and interindividual variation in axial length (AL) and corneal power (K) when IOLMaster measurements were possible and to derive recommendations as to which outlying measurements merit verification before acceptance. Methods: The Medisoft electronic patient database contains prospectively collected data conforming to the United Kingdom (UK) Cataract National Dataset on 55,567 cataract operations. From this AL and K information on the 32,556 eyes (14,016 paired) of patients older than 25 years, without corneal pathology, history of intraocular surgery and who had all biometric measurements taken with the Zeiss IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss Meditec) were extracted. R 2.8.1 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing) was used for statistical analysis. Results: Mean age was 76.4 years and 62.0% were female. Mean (95% confidence interval) values for AL, mean K and corneal astigmatism were 23.40 (21.27-26.59) mm, 43.90 (40.94-47.01) D and 1.04 (<2.50) D. Nearly all astigmatism was either with or against the rule. Differences between paired eyes were not statistically significant. 95% individuals had asymmetry of AL and mean K<0.70 mm and 0.92 D, respectively. Conclusions: On the basis of approximation of the 95% CI above, it is suggested that AL, mean K and keratometric astigmatism measurements outside the ranges 21.30-26.60 mm, 41.00-47.00 D and >2.50 D, respectively, and intraindividual asymmetry of AL >0.70 mm or mean K>0.90 D should be verified before acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The vulnerability of the eye means that ocular air gun injuries figure prominently in the medical literature. This Study reports the results of the first ocular air gun injury surveillance study. Methods: Ocular air gun injuries were reported to the British Ophthalmic Surveillance Unit (BOSU; United Kingdom and Eire) for the period November 2001-December 2002 (13 months). Two questionnaires were used to collect demographic details, circumstances of injury, details of injuries, medical management and outcome. Results: A total of 105 initial and 99 follow-up questionnaires were returned. Eighty-six ocular air gun injuries occurred during the last 12 months of surveillance yielding a corrected, estimated incidence of 91-115 injuries/year. Injuries were most frequent in August/September, and 90% (95/105) of victims were men with mean age of 17.5 years (74% under 18 years). In all, 40% (32/81) of injuries occurred at home and 53% (43/81) in a public place. 23% (19/84) of injuries were deliberate, 66% (69/104) of injuries were severe and 20% (21/105) resulted in ruptured globes. In all, 54% (48/89) required hospital admission and 41 required surgery. A total of 11% (12/105) of eyes were either enucleated or eviscerated. Final visual acuity was 6/12 (Snellen) in 65% (59/91). Moderate/significant cosmetic deformities were recorded in 10% (8/77) and restricted ocular movements in 5% (4/72). Conclusions: Ocular air gun injuries damage sight and leave lasting morbidity. The demographics and circumstances of injury are well documented with access to, and unsupervised use of, air guns, appearing the principal risks for injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to detail anaesthetic techniques and complications for cataract surgery in the UK. Methods: The Cataract National Dataset was extracted from 12 National Health Service Trusts that used the same electronic patient record system between November 2001 and July 2006 on a total of 55,567 cataract operations. Results: Anaesthesia was administered by an ophthalmologist in 56.7% of the cases, a career anaesthetist in 42.1% of the cases, a clinical assistant anaesthetist in 0.3% of the cases, and staff were not recorded in 0.9% of the cases. Local anaesthesia (LA) was used in 95.5%, with topical anaesthesia alone in 22.3% (range by site, 0-99.8%), topical and intracameral in 4.7% (range, 0-24.1%), subtenons in 46.9% (range, 0-81.8%), peribulbar in 19.5% (range, 0-63.4%), and retrobulbar in 0.5% (range, 0-5.3%). One or more minor complications occurred in 4.3% of 38,058 local blocks administered by either sharp needle or subtenons (blunt) cannula. Minor complications were 2.3 times more common with subtenons blocks (P<0.001). Serious complications, defined as sight or life threatening occurred in 25 eyes, 0.066%, undergoing sharp needle or subtenons cannula blocks. Sharp needle techniques had a 2.5-fold increased risk of serious complications compared with subtenons cannula techniques (P=0.026). Conclusion: Subtenons anaesthesia was the most widely used anaesthetic technique for cataract surgery but wide variation existed by site. There was a low rate of reported LA complications. There was a statistically significant increased risk of serious complications with sharp needle anaesthesia compared with subtenons technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To pilot the use of the Cataract National Dataset (CND) using multi-centre data from Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems and to demonstrate the ability of the CND to deliver certain of its intended benefits, including detailed preoperative profiling of cataract surgery patients and updating of benchmark standards of care in the NHS and beyond. Methods: NHS departments using EPR systems to collect a minimum preoperative, anaesthetic, operative and postoperative data set, the CND, were invited to submit data, which were remotely extracted, anonymised, assessed for conformity and completeness, and analysed. Results: Four-hundred and six surgeons from 12 NHS Trusts submitted data on 55,567 cataract operations between November 2001 and July 2006 (86% from January 2004). Mean age (SD) was 75.4 (10.4) years, 62.0% female. Surgery was for first eyes in 58.5%, under local anaesthesia in 95.5% and by phacoemulsification in 99.7%. Trainees performed 33.9% of operations. Preoperative visual acuity (VA) was 6/12 or better in 42.9% eyes overall, in 35.3% first eyes and in 55.3% second eyes. Complication rates included the following: posterior capsule rupture and/or vitreous loss of 1.92%, simple zonule dialysis of 0.46% and retained lens fragments of 0.18%. Postoperative VA of 6/12 or better (and 6/6 or better) was achieved for 91.0% (45.9%) of all eyes, 94.7% (51.0%) of eyes with no co-pathologies and 79.9% (30.2%) of eyes with one or more co-pathologies respectively. Conclusions: The CND is fit for purpose, is able to deliver useful benefits and can be collected as part of routine clinical care via EPR systems. This survey confirms shifts in practice since the 1997-1998 UK National Survey with full conversion to phacoemulsification, better preoperative acuity, a halving of the surgical 'index' benchmark complication of posterior capsule rupture and/or vitreous loss, and improved VA outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]