PURPOSE: To evaluate the complication's rate of cataract surgery performed by ophthalmology residents (second and third-year) and experienced surgeons at a public teaching hospital. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients who had cataract surgery between March (begin of the technique practice) and November (end of the technique practice) was conducted. RESULTS: In 481 cataracts surgeries, 194 (40%) was performed by third-year residents, 165 (34%) by second-year residents and 116 (26%) by experienced surgeons. The most frequent complication in all surgeries was the posterior capsule rupture (4,8%). No statistical diference was found between the residents and experienced surgeons complication's rates (p=0,08). CONCLUSION: The posterior capsule rupture remains the most frequent complication during the cataract surgery learning curve. In this study there was no statistical difference between residents and experienced surgeons, which demonstrates the important role of adequate supervision of the surgeires.
Phacoemulsification; Cataract; Internship and residency; Intraoperative complications
