PhD defence Lindsay Selina Spekreijse

Keywords: Bilateral cataract surgery ,ISBCS, DSBCS, Cost-effectiveness

"Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery: A Pathway to Implementation"

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate clinical outcomes, patient reported outcomes and cost-effectiveness of Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (ISBCS) versus Delayed Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (DSCBS). Furthermore, potential barriers regarding the implementation of ISBCS in the Netherlands are assessed, and the predictive accuracy of a potentially beneficial device in ISBCS patients is evaluated. In conclusion, the thesis shows that ISBCS is a safe, effective and cost-effective alternative to DSBCS, provided that patients are selected carefully and safety guidelines are taken into account. In order for patients, healthcare providers and society as a whole to benefit from the procedure, an initial effort of various stakeholders is required to overcome potential implementation barriers of ISBCS (e.g. availability of separate products for right and left eyes and medico-legal support for performing the ISBCS procedure).

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