Clinical Study
Eye (2007) 21, 799–801; doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702337; published online 31 March 2006
Cataract surgery for junior ophthalmologists: are there enough cases?
This work has not been previously presented at a meeting
1Frimley Park Hospital, Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey, UK
Correspondence: SA Aslam, Eye Department, Frimley Park Hospital, Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Surrey GU16 7UJ, UK. Tel: +44 1276 604 604; Fax: +44 8701 369 472; E-mail: sheraslam2@yahoo.com
Received 21 September 2005; Accepted 14 February 2006; Published online 31 March 2006.
Abstract
Aim
To evaluate those cases that are suitable for operation by the junior ophthalmic trainee.
Methods
A prospective survey of 96 consecutive cases from five consultant lists for phacoemulsification over a 1 month period were preoperatively assessed for their suitability for the ophthalmic trainee using set criteria. A checklist was designed for all patients and criteria were marked with reference to suitability by a single examiner. The criteria chosen were arbitrary and had no bearing on a consultant's final decision to allow the junior to operate.
Results
Twenty-two out of 96 cases (22.9%) were deemed to be suitable for operation by a junior ophthalmologist (ie 4.4 cases per consultant list). The three main reasons for exclusion were first eye case, eye for operation with visual acuity 6/12 or better, and mature cataract.
Discussion
Using our results, if 4.4 cases were suitable for a junior ophthalmologist per month, this would allow for adequate exposure during the early stages of training. However, if the number of relatively straightforward cases on training lists were to be reduced owing to unavailability on hospital waiting lists, this could potentially compromise ophthalmic training in the future.
Keywords:
phacoemulsification, training, cataract, junior, prospective, survey
