In 2024, 363,039 cataract surgeries were performed and recorded in 12 European countries. Data from the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (EUREQUO) showed that the safety and effectiveness of these procedures continue to improve. The latest report was presented at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), Medical Xpress reports.
Since EUREQUO was established in 2007, the registry has accumulated data on nearly 5 million cataract surgeries. In 2024, the most common technique was phacoemulsification with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens, which accounted for 98.9% of all procedures. During this procedure, the surgeon inserts an ultrasound probe through a small incision, breaks up the clouded lens, and removes the fragments before implanting an artificial lens.
The analysis showed a significant improvement in vision after surgery. Mean best-corrected visual acuity increased from 0.448 before surgery to 0.939 afterward. Visual acuity of at least 0.5 was achieved in 92.6% of operated eyes, while a level of 1.0 or higher was achieved in 68.6% of cases.
At the same time, the surgeries were associated with a very low rate of complications. The most common complication occurring during surgery was posterior capsule rupture, which occurred in 0.39% of cases. After surgery, the most common complication was cystoid macular edema, but it was recorded in only 0.13% of cases.
The researchers also assessed the accuracy of calculations of the optical power of the artificial lens. The mean absolute error was 0.56 diopters, and in 84.95% of cases, the result was within one diopter of the planned target.
According to Carlo Bellucci, a researcher at the University of Parma, the overall results of cataract surgery in Europe are “excellent.” At the same time, even small further improvements in surgical technique could have a noticeable impact because millions of these procedures are performed every year.
In the future, specialists expect further development of intraocular lenses that could simultaneously provide clear vision at different distances and reduce patients’ dependence on glasses. However, the cost of the most advanced types of lenses remains a barrier to their widespread adoption.
At private clinics in the United Kingdom and EU countries, the total cost of surgery starts at approximately £3,400 and €4,000, respectively, per eye, with the price depending in part on the type of lens implanted.
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