An outcome study of cataract surgery based on a national register

PURPOSE: To test the viability of performing a national cataract outcome study with a national cataract register as a reference base. METHODS: Seven Swedish eye clinics participated. All patients operated during the month of January 1994 were included. The total number of patients was 605. RESULTS: This outcome study is based on few, but well defined parameters. On the basis of these measurements quality indicators are suggested that makes comparison between surgeons/clinics possible. CONCLUSION: Outcome studies are different from controlled clinical trials. They are less time consuming and designed to describe the outcome of surgery in daily practise. An outcome study of cataract surgery does not replace the careful monitoring of each patient at the clinical level, which is necessary for the development of new surgical technics and medical treatments. However, an outcome study can provide an overall quality description of cataract surgery in the daily practise of any given surgical unit.