We are facing significant capacity challenges brought about by the COVID pandemic. We need to restore surgery for the visual rehabilitation of cataract patients as well as maintain safe practice in the prevention of COVID transmission.
One avenue being considered by some units for mitigating risks associated with multiple visits and to optimise and streamline services is the use of immediate bilateral sequential cataract surgery (ISBCS) (referred to by NICE as “bilateral simultaneous” surgery), that is the second eye surgery is performed immediately after the first eye surgery on the same list.
This guidance document is aimed to inform ophthalmic departments on the additional considerations needed when undertaking ISBCS.