Percentage of Cataract Surgery Patients Who Had a Unplanned Additional Eye Surgery (Anterior Virectomy)

Additional eye surgery following a cataract surgery can be a sign of poor quality. This measure assesses the percentage of cataract surgery patients who undergo a vitrectomy (removal of vitreous) to remove vitreous that has inadvertently entered the anterior segment of the eye.

In a standard cataract surgery, the surgeon works inside the "lens capsule." If that capsule breaks (an unplanned complication), the gel-like vitreous can leak forward into the front chamber of the eye. Since the vitreous is thick and sticky, it can pull on the retina or interfere with the new artificial lens if left alone. An anterior vitrectomy is performed to carefully remove that displaced gel and ensure the eye remains stable.

Data for this measure is obtained directly from the CMS Provider Data Catalog. 

Reporting Period 

• Most recent 12-month reporting period published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Patients Included in the Measure

• Outpatients (Patients who are admitted and discharged on the same day)
• Adults