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Discharge Readiness After Ophthalmic Day Surgery: A Patient-Centered Perspective on Nursing Assessment, Self-Management, and Adherence

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: : Medical eligibility for discharge after ophthalmic day surgery does not establish whether patients can manage recovery at home. This conceptual Perspective uses Transition Theory to examine how nursing assessment can connect discharge preparation with practical self-management tasks. The pathway adapts established discharge-preparation and transitional-care principles by specifying ophthalmic tasks to verify, incorporating patient preferences into feasible support arrangements, and linking unresolved deficits to reassessment and follow-up. Relevant tasks include eye-drop administration, understanding changes to treatment, recognising warning symptoms, and carrying out prescribed positioning or restrictions. Direct readiness evidence remains predominantly cataract-based, with additional observational evidence from vitreoretinal day surgery; glaucoma and corneal studies provide adjacent evidence on postoperative care and adherence. Patient-reported readiness, observed skill, medication use, positioning adherence, follow-up attendance, and patient experience should be assessed as distinct outcomes. The framework specifies how these established principles can inform procedure-specific nursing assessment and transition support. Plain Language Summary: People who have eye surgery often go home the same day. They may still need help using eye drops, knowing when to seek help, or following instructions about movement and head position. We discuss how nurses can check these needs before patients leave. We drew on published studies and existing ideas about care after discharge. We did not test a new care programme. We suggest asking patients what worries them and how they prefer to receive information and support. Nurses can ask patients to explain key instructions in their own words and show how they will use their eye drops. Family members can join in when the patient wants or needs their help. Any remaining difficulty should lead to extra support and another check. Most research concerns cataract surgery. Other eye operations have different care needs. Studies are needed to find out whether this approach helps people follow treatment, recover at home, and get help when needed. Keywords: ambulatory surgery, cataract surgery, discharge planning, health literacy, medication adherence, patient preference

Source: Patient Preference and Adherence

DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s657624