Time Savings Using a Digital Workflow versus a Conventional for Intraocular Lens Implantation in a Corporate Chain Hospital Setting

Figures & data

Figure 1 Time assessments for digital cataract workflow and existing conventional workflow. *Time 1 was calculated as the sum of the mean times recorded for each step: (IOL Master) + (Pentacam) + (OCT) + (endothelial cell count). **Time 3: Digital transfer step not applicable in digital cataract workflow as it is automated. ^#Times 4 and 5: IOL axis marking is not applicable in the digital cataract workflow as it is done via the FORUM^® platform/CALLISTO eye.

Abbreviations: IOL, intraocular lens; OR, operating room.

Table 1 Time Measurements at Various Steps in Site’s Existing Conventional and Digital Cataract Workflow

Cataract workflow*	Parameters Assessed	Digital Cataract Workflow, Mean± SD (in min.)	Existing Conventional Workflow, Mean ± SD (in min.)	Time Saving (in min.)	Time Saving (%)	p value**
Preoperative assessments^#	IOL Master/Pentacam/OCT/Endothelial cell count	14.15 ± 1.86	21.41 ± 1.18	7.33	35%	p ≤ 0.002
Surgical planning	IOL power calculation	2.19 ± 1.23	3.17 ± 2.29	0.58	30%	–
	Data transfer/export for surgery	NA	1.33 ± 0.25	1.33	100%	–
Surgery	Drawing axis for IOL	NA	3.07 ± 0.53	3.07	100%	–
	Data transfer in operation room	0.20	1.20 ± 0.25	1.00	75%	–
Overall time saving (in min): 14.11 min (Digital vs Existing conventional workflow)

Note: *Füssen and Kaufbeuren continued with the conventional workflow, whereas Augsburg used the digital cataract workflow. **p value shows significant difference between average process time between the site’s existing conventional and digital cataract workflow. ^#Preoperative assessments were calculated as the sum of the mean times recorded for each step: (IOL Master) + (Pentacam) + (OCT) + (endothelial cell count). Overall time= (preoperative measurements) + (surgical planning) + (surgery).

Abbreviations: min, minutes; NA, not applicable; OCT, Optical coherence tomography.

Figure 2 Inter observer variability in the digital cataract workflow versus existing conventional workflow for preoperative assessments.

Figure 3 Overall time savings in digital cataract workflow versus existing conventional workflow.

Abbreviation: IOL, intraocular.