New article by Luis E. Pablo in the Herald of Aragon: “Fifty thousand eyes”

The Scientific Deputy Director of the IIS Aragón, Luis E. Pablo Júlvez, explains in his new article how the High Resolution Cataract Surgery Unit has been operating since 2013 and has already operated on 50.000 cataracts.

Last May An ophthalmology surgeon operated on the 50.000th cataract at the High Resolution Cataract Surgery Unit -ARCCA- at the Nuestra Señora de Gracia Provincial HospitalThis 'simple' act represents an important milestone in public health in Aragon. Thousands of patients from our community have passed through our hospital, which is currently a model of clinical management and efficiency in our country that has been replicated by numerous autonomous communities.

But what is a cataract and why such a high number of patients? Cataract is an eye disease, generally related to age, which consists of the opacification of the crystalline lens, a natural lens that allows our eyes to focus images. Cataract is the leading cause of reversible blindness in the world. In developing countries it is a major problem, since if the surgical option is not available, visual loss and therefore disability is assured.

The incidence of this pathology in Spain represents just over 1% annually, which translated to our Community amounts to about 10.000 surgeries per year.Cataract surgery is performed in any hospital in the national health system with excellent visual results, but the problem is the number of cases. The progressive ageing of the population represents a significant economic and social burden for the public health system, hospitals and ophthalmology services in our country.

In Spain, the waiting list for cataract surgery It continually appears in the media among the largest and with an unstoppable increase. This problem was addressed in Aragon in 2013 with the creation of the ARCCA Unit, an initiative that arose from professionals and was supported by health authorities.. Its objective was to improve the waiting list within the public system in an efficient manner and complying with the strictest quality standards.

What does this initiative consist of? Firstly, the material and personnel resources of the Zaragoza I and II sectors were combined, which significantly increased clinical efficiency and operations. Patients with cataracts who did not require any other type of associated surgery were referred and adapted to the criteria for surgery without admission.

Using advanced process management techniques, the team of ophthalmologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, opticians, assistants, orderlies, etc. coordinate so that the preparation and pre- and postoperative procedures are carried out with the maximum guarantees and efficiency. As our users attest, the Provincial Hospital is the ideal environment for this type of outpatient surgery, due to its size, location and 'family' atmosphere.

In addition, The average number of procedures per operating room has been much higher than the standard, the costs of materials, lenses, personnel, etc. have been improved, and this is combined with numerous innovation initiatives., research and teaching related to this type of eye surgery through agreements with public institutions such as the University of Zaragoza or the Health Research Institute. These initiatives provide a double benefit. Firstly, they allow public health to have the most advanced technologies, and secondly, they allow our health professionals and researchers to participate from the beginning in the development of new lenses, measurement instruments and surgery such as the femtosecond laser.

Along these years, The administrations of diverse political tendencies that have succeeded one another in the Government of Aragon have been able to appreciate the importance and results of the project, have promoted this idea and our patients are witnesses to the success of the initiative until reaching this significant number of surgeries.

On a human and individual level, improved visual abilities also imply an increase in the quality of life and a significant decrease in the dependency of our elderly. Many of the readers of this article are first-hand witnesses, as patients or family members, of the enthusiasm, warmth and professionalism of the health workers who contribute every day to the fact that the Aragonese public health system is considered one of the main assets of our community.

These lines serve as a tribute to our patients and to the professionals of both sectors. who are taking part in this pioneering project and also to ensure that users of our healthcare system receive even better care, if possible, for the next 50.000 eyes that require surgery at ARCCA.

Luis E. Pablo

Scientific Deputy Director of the IIS Aragón, Head of the Ophthalmology Service of the Zaragoza I and II sectors and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Zaragoza

Source: The Herald of Aragon

Main picture: Cataract surgery in an operating room at the Provincial Hospital of Zaragoza – Oliver Duch