J Comm Eye Health 2003;16(46): 24
LETTERS
Monitoring cataract surgical outcomes Moses C Chirambo
(J Comm Eye Health 2002; 15: 58-59)
Dear Editor
Dr Chirambo paints a realistic picture of African cataract surgery where the result of the average cataract operation is not reaching the WHO recommended visual outcome.
Suppose I am a cataract surgeon working in an isolated hospital. Suppose I have the intellectual honesty and humility to begin the process of auditing my results. Suppose I find that 50% or more of my post-operative cataract patients fail to attain 6/18 or better vision. Who will help me to improve?
Suppose my surgical skills need to be updated. Suppose my selection of patients needs to be bettered. Where do I turn for help? Improvement is not going to happen simply by doing an audit. lf my results are mediocre then I need a non-threatening helping hand. But from where and from whom?
