Cataract surgery outcomes across Europe continue to improve, according to the latest data from the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (EUREQUO), which captured more than 363,000 procedures performed across 12 European countries in 2024.
The findings, presented at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), add to a registry that has now recorded nearly five million cataract surgeries since its launch in 2007. Researchers said the latest figures point to sustained gains in both safety and efficacy, although access to newer intraocular lens technologies remains constrained by cost.
Phacoemulsification with posterior IOL implantation accounted for 98.9% of procedures recorded in the registry. Among advanced IOL technologies, toric lenses were the most commonly used, while the cost of premium technologies continues to limit their wider adoption.
Visual outcomes were strong. Mean best corrected visual acuity improved from 0.448 before surgery to 0.939 after surgery in decimal notation, while 92.6% of eyes achieved a postoperative BCVA of at least 0.5, with nearly 69% reaching 1.0 or better. Biometry was also accurate, with 84.95% of eyes falling within 1.0 D of the intended refractive target.
Complication rates remained low. Posterior capsule rupture was the most common intraoperative complication, occurring in 0.39% of procedures, while cystoid macular edema was the most frequently recorded postoperative complication, affecting 0.13% of eyes.
“The annual EUREQUO report ... demonstrates consistent progressive improvement in cataract surgery outcomes over the years,” said Carlo Bellucci, research fellow at the University of Parma, Italy. Bellucci added that she expects to see an evolution in IOL technology over the next few years, with developments in simultaneous vision IOLs potentially “minimising or eliminating the need for spectacles.”
However, ESCRS President Burkhard Dick cautioned that broader participation in the registry is still needed, while also calling for greater future availability of advanced lens technologies. He added: “The ESCRS funds EUREQUO because we strongly believe there should be ongoing surveillance of the safety, effectiveness and quality of cataract and refractive surgery to move forward in our speciality.”
Source: ESCRS Congress.
