Phaco decreases mortality

Contrary to accepted wisdom, cataract surgery in fact decreases mortality rates, according to results published online ahead of print by the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Michael SJ Blundell of the Academic Unit of Ophthalmology at the University of Bristol and Bristol Eye Hospital, UK and colleagues collated survival data from patients undergoing cataract surgery between December 2000 and February 2001 (n=933) and compared them with national and regional mortality rates.

The team determined that the patients who had undergone the phaco procedure had a statistically significant reduced rate of mortality when compared with either national or regional rates.

As this result is in contrast to the post-phaco increased mortality rate established in earlier studies, the researchers recommend further investigation and evaluation in this field.