A new study published in Eye investigated whether a reduction in cataract surgery due to the COVID-19 pandemic lead to higher operative complications.
The study details.
Previous studies have shown that breaks from performing regular surgery have led to deterioration in technical skills. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, elective cataract surgeries were cancelled in the United Kingdom between March and June 2020.
This study analyzed data from two 7-month periods following the first lockdown in 2020 and during and after the second lockdown period in 2021, which was compared with data from an 11-month period before the pandemic.
What did they find?
- After 9 months of curtailed elective cataract surgery, rates of posterior capsular rupture increased across all surgeon grades and was not related to case complexity.
- Postoperative cystoid macula edema rates increased during COVID and were not related to the proportion of patients with diabetes or increased PCR rates.
- The reduction in elective cataract surgery during the pandemic was associated with more complications, perhaps due to attenuation of microsurgical skills.
The take home.
According to the study authors, there appears to be a need to provide more support and guidelines for ophthalmic surgeons of all grades when they return to surgery after an extended hiatus, in order to improve patient safety.