Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate current practice patterns of Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (ISBCS) by ophthalmologists in Singapore and assess their attitudes towards performing ISBCS in future cataract care.
Methods: An anonymised electronic survey, modified from a similar study conducted in the United Kingdom to fit local context, was distributed to members of the College of Ophthalmologists, Academy of Medicine, Singapore, from 20 June to 1 September 2023. An initial screening question on prior experience with ISBCS directed the rest of the survey. Questions explored ophthalmologists’ current ISBCS practice patterns and the importance of factors affecting their willingness to perform ISBCS. Results were descriptively analyzed.
Results: Results collated 2 months upon survey dissemination saw a total of 58 respondents from 235 eligible members (24.7% response rate). Of these, 16 (27.6%) were currently performing ISBCS, 37 (63.8%) had never performed, and 5 (8.6%) had stopped performing. In considering ISBCS, patient convenience (n=11, 68.8%) and reduced hospital visits (n=8, 50.0%) were the most important factors ophthalmologists nominated. The most important barriers to performing ISBCS were medico-legal issues (n=31, 83.8%) and risk of endophthalmitis (n=27, 73.0%), followed by the perceived lack of evidence for its effectiveness (n=19, 51.4%).