Introduction

With the remarkable update of surgical technology and equipment, phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation has become the most prevalent treatment for cataract. Although precision medicine is becoming an appealing concept, accurate IOL power calculation is always a challenge in ophthalmology, while the involvement of various departments, doctors and technicians made it more complicated1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.

In many hospitals, the technicians performed the preoperative examinations on cataract patients including measurement of axial length, anterior chamber depth and corneal curvature. Then according to the results of biometric instrument IOL-Master or Lenstar (A-scan results were utilized in patients who were unable to be measured by biometric instrument), the surgeon selected the formula, calculated the IOL power and postoperative refractive prediction. The final refractive results were finished by optometrists. Hence, every simple step during the process may cause errors, and unoptimized process will inevitably result in undesirable postoperative refractive outcomes1,5,10,11.

As a process management and problem-solving technique, quality control circle (QCC) was firstly employed in business management and company operation in Japan12,13,14,15. With the joint effort by all members and referring to certain procedures, the group members can make the most of their advantages and cooperate with other related departments, thus finally improving the complex work flow and solve the problems in work and management13,14,16. Some studies evaluated the role of QCC in medical improvement and highlighted the success of its application in medical and hospital management17,18,19. However, to our knowledge, little literature focused on the unoptimized process of IOL power calculation and the application of QCC in the field of cataract. Therefore, the aim of this study was to apply the novel QCC method to optimize the IOL power calculation process under the QCC principle and evaluate its accuracy and efficacy in accuracy improvement.

Materials and Methods

Patients

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and written informed consents were obtained from all patients. This study was complied with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and all methods were performed in accordance with relevant protocol. Retrospective data of 116 patients (170 eyes) who had undergone phacoemulsification and IOL implantation between November 2013 and September 2014 at our hospital was included (Without QCC group). After applying the optimized process assisted by QCC, 104 patients (151 eyes) that underwent the surgery by the same experienced surgeon (Yun-e Zhao) between March 2015 and January 2016 were regarded as the QCC group. We excluded eyes with pterygium, strabimus, epiretinal membrane, retinal detachment, uveitis, or a history of corneal or intraocular surgery. Patients with complications or a best corrected visual acuity less than 20/40 after surgery were also excluded. According to the axial length (AL), patients were divided into the normal AL (22 mm ≤ AL < 26 mm) and long AL (AL ≥ 26 mm) subgroups.

Process optimization and standardization

The QCC technique was applied to optimize and standardize the process of IOL power calculation. The retrospective data of 117 patients were reviewed to analyze the potential reasons based on fishbone analytical diagram method (Fig. 1). Then every QCC members voted to choose the main target. Finally, three leading causes were selected as the main target of this QCC (Table 1), which were respectively inaccurate biometric measurement, IOL and formula selection and optimization. Taking the feasibility, economy and circle capacity into consideration, two experienced doctors from the cataract department and 1 technician participated in the strategy assessment and graded each strategy based on a 5-point system. The strategy with the lowest score would not be selected in this study. According to the main reasons, sufficient circle meetings were hold to optimize the positive strategies as follows.

Figure 1
figure 1

Fishbone analytical diagram. This fishbone diagram includes main reasons that lead to the low accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power prediction.

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Table 1 Reason analysis and strategy assessment.
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Firstly, normalize the biometric measure protocol for IOLMaster: (1) make sure that the examined eye of patients focused on the fixation lamp and use penlight to guide the fellow eye if the fixation is poor; (2) delete the data with a deviation of more than 0.02 mm, and reexamine the data less than 5 groups; while the most important tip for curvature measurement is nice focus; then the notes for the A scan: (a) adjust the sonic velocity related to lens opacity; (b) ensure the favorable fixation of the patients with the red dot; (c) determine and record the final data based on the adjusted waveform in A scan, delete the data with an abnormal waveform or a deviation of more than 0.05 mm from the mean value, reexamine the data less than 10 groups, and assign another technician to finish the examination if the measurement results could not meet the standard mentioned above.

Secondly, optimize the IOL constant in the light of User Group for Laser Interference Biometry (ULIB, website: http://ocusoft.de/ulib/). Thirdly, select the ray-tracing assisted IOL calculation software PhacoOptics which was reported by Olsen when it comes to patients with long AL20,21. During the QCC activity, the quality management cycle, namely PDCA (plan, do, check and action), should be followed throughly to achieve the sustained enhancement of strategy execution.

Main outcome measurement

The results of the subjective refraction at 3 months postoperatively were recorded as achieved refraction and expressed as the spherical equivalent (SE). The predicted refraction error was defined as the achieved refraction minus the predicted refraction result by each formula. The mean difference and absolute difference of the predicted refraction were calculated as the mean prediction error (ME) and mean absolute prediction error (MAE), respectively. Additionally, the percentage of eyes with a final MAE within 0.5D was regarded as an evaluation index of the accuracy.

Statistical analyses

The sample size in the QCC group was determined by PASS 11.0 software (NCSS Statistical Software, Kaysville, UT) based on 80% power to detect the effect of QCC. Then the data was analyzed by SPSS 18.0 software for Windows (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, U.S.). Normal distribution of the data was analyzed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Independent sample t test or non-parametric Wilcoxon was used to compare the differences of age, axial length and refractive results between the two groups. Pearson’s chi-square test was used for the investigation of the patient’s demographics and the accuracy between the two groups after the QCC application. P values lower than 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.

Results

Patient demographics

Table 2 summarized the demographics of patients who underwent surgery before and after the QCC application. There were no significant differences in the sex ratio, age and axial length between the two groups.

Table 2 Demographics of cataract patients who underwent surgery before and after the quality control circle activity.
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Accuracy of IOL power estimation

Table 3 summarized the refractive outcomes of Haigis and SRK/T formulas in patients with different AL in the two groups. As shown in Table 4, there was significantly higher accuracy in patients with normal axial length after QCC when calculated by Haigis or SRK/T formulas, while there was no statistically significant difference in the patients with long axial length by the two regular formulas. However, we achieved a remarkable accuracy of IOL power prediction as high as 75.0% if the PhacoOptics software was used in patients with long AL, which was significantly higher than that using the other two formulas (p < 0.001).

Table 3 Refractive outcomes of Haigis and SRK/T formulas in patients with different axial lengths in the two groups.
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Table 4 Accuracy of intraocular lens power prediction before and after the quality control circle activity.
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QCC protocol

We established the QCC group and selected the IOL power calculation accuracy improvement as our goal. Then after analyzing the current status and related reasons, we formulated several strategies and executed them. Finally, the results were checked and the process was standardized. During the QCC activity, the PDCA circulation would continue until the results were effective. The ten steps protocol of QCC was shown in Fig. 2, and the badge of our QCC could be found in Supplementary Fig. S1.

Figure 2
figure 2

Protocol of the quality control circle. The ten steps and PDCA (plan, do, check and act) flow of the quality control circle.

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Standardization

The standard operation flow (Fig. 3) was established and optimized by the continuous improvement of the QCC activity.

Figure 3
figure 3

Standard flow of the intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation process. After quality control circle, the process of the IOL power calculation was standardized for cataract patients with different axial lengths (AL).

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Discussion

Cataract surgery is the only treatment for cataract patients at present, while accurate IOL power calculation continues to be a big challenge in ophthalmology, especially in primary hospitals1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,22,23,24. However, unoptimized process of IOL power calculation may lead to inaccurate refractive outcomes. Process optimization has drawn great attention worldwide for its potential in accuracy improvement23,24,25,26. Nevertheless, QCC, as a process optimization tool, has never been used in the field of ophthalmology. Therefore, we firstly performed this study to optimize the IOL power calculation process by utilizing QCC technique and evaluated its efficacy in improving the accuracy of IOL power calculation.

Through our retrospective data analyses, we found that before QCC, the percentages of eyes within 0.5D of target refraction were respectively 63.2%/59.2% (Haigis/SRK/T formula), which were consistent with the benchmark standards8. Although they were lower than other literature3,4,5, we thought they were acceptable as the baseline since they were obtained under conditions with unoptimized process including biometric measurement, A constant and formula selection. Based on the QCC technique, our study analyzed the potential reasons related to the low accuracy by data review and brainstorm. In order to optimize the process and achieve a higher level of accuracy of IOL power estimation, we laid down relevant solutions to realize this goal.

Given that feasibility, economy and circle capacity, three leading causes were selected as the main target (see Supplementary Table S1). In China or other third world countries, patients are more prone to undergo the cataract surgery until the cataract is mature, thus A scan or other enhanced optical measure methods will be required. Therefore, accurate biometric measurement and standardized process are essential and critical. For the purpose of more precise biometric measurement, we formulated the standard operation procedure such as using the average of repeated measurement and/or checking the results by different operators, especially in patients performed by A scan. In fact, no matter how well we controlled the protocol, the precision of the A scan is inferior to the optical measurement, and the axial length performed by A scan will influence the IOL power calculation more or less. In terms of IOL23, we optimized our routine IOL type, A constant and formula by refer to the ULIB. With respect to formula selection in patients with abnormal axial length especially long axial length, we found that researchers have introduced the C constant as a new concept for the ray-tracing assisted IOL calculation software PhacoOptics in the latest literature, which indeed bettered the prediction of the IOL power20,21. Therefore, we applied this method in IOL power calculation in patients with long axial length. It turned out that the accuracy was 75%, which was consistent with other literature3,5,6,22,23,26.

In accordance with the PDCA cycle of the QCC activity, the accuracy of predicted IOL power increased from 63.2%/59.2% (Haigis/SRK/T formula) to 80.8%/75.8% respectively in patients with normal axial length and the results were similar with other studies3,6,22. Although there was no difference between the two formulas after QCC in patients with long axial length, the utilization of PhacoOptics software led to a dramatic growth in accuracy. In patients with normal axial length, we attributed the enhancement of accuracy to the standardization of axial length measurement, IOL constant and formula optimization, indicating that the whole process optimization could lead to accuracy improvement. Regarding to the IOL power calculation in patients with long axial length, both the Haigis and SRK/T formulas would take the axial length and anterior chamber depth into consideration, while the PhacoOptics software was independent of axial length as it was based on the preoperative lens thickness and anterior chamber depth to predict the postoperative IOL position20,21. In addition, as an optical formula, PhacoOptics software attached great importance to the true net corneal power, realistic geometric position and corneal asphericity. Furthermore, previous study has demonstrated that C constant was an unbiased concept to predict the effective lens position20. Hence, we owed the success in patients with long axial length to the ray tracing method. Although the ray tracing method demonstrated its potential and efficacy in accuracy improvement, we did not apply it in patients with normal AL because of the desirable accuracy by Haigis/SRK/T formula, high manpower costs and cost-benefit analysis. In this study, our department utilized the scientific management approach as a tool, established the QCC group, executed the strategies under the PDCA principle, and obtained desirable results, which was a pioneering attempt and validated the importance of QCC in ophthalmology. It not only gave rise to accuracy, but also promoted the formation of standardization and a smooth process flow. Furthermore, it increased the satisfaction of patients as well. As we know, the worsening of doctor-patient relationship is becoming an increasing threat in China due to misunderstanding and distrust27,28. The dramatic growth in accuracy could bring relief in the deteriorated condition and facilitate the harmonious coexistence between patients and doctors.

Promoting the QCC activity can not only obtain the tangible achievements such as accuracy improvement, but also produce some intangible achievements. First, the QCC activity could draw out the capacity and potential ability of the group. Circle members are willing to spend more time, strength and creativity to realize the self-management and harmonious development of the group. In the modern society, the pattern of solving problems by a single department is no longer an ideal method. Additionally, allowing for the involvement of the QCC activity with many different departments, a sense of responsibility and coordination will be promoted. Overall, the more active the QCC is, the better results we can achieve, and everyone can benefit from the process. Moreover, the QCC activity exerted some certain effect to encourage the work morale and attitudes. Although this investigation only performed in cataract patients, we hope that our novel discovery will bring more studies to further explore the function of QCC in ophthalmology.

In spite of the success in this study, several limitations should also be noted. First, a large and multi-center study was definitively needed to verify the efficacy and accuracy of QCC. In addition, as limited by economy and circle capacity, abnormal anterior chamber depth modification was not performed in the present study. Thus, further investigations were still required for the benefits of complex cases.

In summary, this study showed the potentially important role that optimization of process has in the IOL power calculation in patients who underwent cataract surgery. The results proved the efficacy and accuracy of QCC in IOL power calculation process optimization and accuracy improvement. The application of QCC really made a difference from the conventional methods, indicating the feasibility of extended utilization of QCC in more fields of ophthalmology, clinical practice and even the scientific research. Furthermore, the successful experience of QCC could be beneficial to the establishment of primary eye hospitals. With the current medical climate of precision medicine and personalized medicine10,11,28, there is no doubt that QCC should be considered as a promising approach to achieve a higher level of efficacy and precision in medical and research field.

Meeting

This study was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) during May 7 to May 11, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland, and selected as a hot topic.