Extracapsular cataract extraction compared with small incision surgery by phacoemulsification: a randomised trial

This is a critical abstract of an economic evaluation that meets the criteria for inclusion on NHS EED. Each abstract contains a brief summary of the methods, the results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the study and the conclusions drawn. At the one-year follow-up, the phacoemulsification-based treatment (Phako) for cataract extraction was slightly more effective than extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). In addition, it was associated with lower costs, mainly due to the smaller proportion of patients requiring distant spectacles.