Cataracts: 20/40 or Better Visual Acuity within 90 Days Following Cataract Surgery

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of uncomplicated cataract who had cataract surgery and no significant ocular conditions impacting the visual outcome of surgery and had best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better (distance or near) achieved within 90 days following the cataract surgery

All patients aged 18 years and older who had cataract surgery and did not meet any exclusion criteria

Equals Initial Population

Patients with significant ocular conditions impacting the visual outcome of surgery

Patients who had best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better (distance or near) achieved within 90 days following cataract surgery

Not Applicable

None

Higher score indicates better quality

This is an episode-based measure, meaning there may be more than one reportable event for a given patient during the measurement period. The level of analysis for this measure is each cataract surgery during the measurement period, including instances where more than one cataract procedure was performed during the measurement period. Every cataract surgery during the measurement period should be counted as a measurable denominator event for the measure calculation.

Only procedures performed during January 1 - September 30 of the reporting period will be considered for this measure, in order to determine if 20/40 or better visual acuity has been achieved within the 90 days following the cataract procedure. Cataract procedures performed during October 1 - December 31 are excluded from the initial population.

The measure, as written, does not specifically require documentation of laterality. Coding limitations in particular clinical terminologies do not currently allow for that level of specificity (ICD-10-CM includes laterality, but ICD-9-CM and SNOMED-CT do not uniformly include this distinction). Therefore, at this time, it is not a requirement of this measure to indicate laterality of the diagnoses, findings or procedures. Available coding to capture the data elements specified in this measure has been provided. It is assumed that the eligible professional or eligible clinician will record laterality in the patient medical record, as quality care and clinical documentation should include laterality.

This measure is to be reported by the clinician performing the cataract surgery procedure. Clinicians who provide only preoperative or postoperative management of cataract patients are not eligible for this measure.