Characteristics of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery

This retrospective study compared characteristics and surgical outcomes of immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) versus delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS) in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Patients undergoing ISBCS (same day) or DSBCS (1-14 days apart) between January 1, 2004, and January 1, 2024, with topical anesthesia were included. Among 47,892 patients undergoing bilateral surgery, 1,151 (2.4%) received ISBCS. There were no significant differences in mean age (p = 0.065) or sex distribution (p = 0.853). ISBCS patients had a greater travel burden (p<0.001) and fewer ocular comorbidities (p < 0.001); the Charlson Comorbidity Index did not differ (p = 0.086) between the two groups. ISBCS was more likely to occur at higher-volume centers (p = 0.008) and less likely when residents were primary surgeons (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in postoperative complication rates between the two groups (p = 0.565).