Cataract Surgery Practices in the Republic of Korea: A Survey of the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2018

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Authors: Jin Kwon Chung ; Hyung Keun Lee ; Mee Kum Kim ; Hong Kyun Kim ; Sun Woong Kim ; Eun Chul Kim ; Hyun Seung Kim

MeSH: Adult ; Aged ; Cataract Extraction/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmology* ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Societies, Medical* ; Surveys and Questionnaires*

Keywords: Biometry ; Cataract ; Intraocular lenses ; Phacoemulsification ; Surveys and questionnaires

Abstract: PURPOSE:

To describe current cataract surgery practice patterns and changing trends among Korean ophthalmologists.

METHODS:

A survey of members of the Korean Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery was performed in July 2018. One hundred and two (12.7%) of 801 questionnaires were returned for analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared with previous surveys.

RESULTS:

Most of the respondents (75%) had been in practice for 6 or more years and performed an average of 31 cataract surgeries per month. The preferred method for cataract surgery was phacoemulsification (95%); 5% used a femtosecond laser. The use of topical anesthesia markedly increased from 69% (2012) to 80% (2018). The use of optical biometry exceeded that of ultrasound A-scan biometry. A multifocal intraocular lens was used by 76% of the respondents compared with 44% of the respondents in 2012. Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were used by 70% of the respondents postoperatively. Most (59%) of these anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed for 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS:

This survey provided a comprehensive update of the present cataract surgery practices in the Republic of Korea. The results emphasized the increasing use of premium intraocular lenses, optical biometry, and topical anesthesia.