Materials and Methods: In 2004, Turkish Ophthalmology Society Cataract and Refractive Surgery deparment, prepared a questionnary (11 multiple choice, totally 16 questions) and asked for ophthalmologists to participate in national congress and spring symposium.

Results: 280 questionnaries (5 were received by internet) evaluated. The question about the amount of avarage cataract surgery in 2003 was answered by 263 participants and totally 47873 cataract surgeries performed. The avarage cataract surgery amount was 182 (181.98±193.79) (0-1230). 73.7% (35322 procedures) phacoemulsification, 22.8% 10927 procedures) planned extracapsuler cataract extraction, 2.2% 1055 procedures) manuel small incision extraxapsuler cataract surgery, and 1.1% (569 procedures) intracapsuler cataract extraction. The visual acuity level for cataract surgery decision was 0.3 and worse Snellen lines by 39.5%, 0.5 and worse Snellen lines by 35.9%, 0.3 and worse Snellen lines but if there is professional necessity, the visual acuity level is not important by 0.7%, 0.5 and worse Snellen lines but if there is professional necessity, the visual acuity is not important by 0.7%. 22.9% did not care visual acity level for cataract decision. The retrobulbar anesthesia was the most performed anesthesia (34.2%), 53.8% used sutures . Peroperatively, posterior capsule perforation and postoperatively corneal edema was the leading complication. 67.6% used subconjunctival antibiotic postoperatively but 87.8% did not prefer intracamaral antibiotic.

Conclusion: This is the first cataract survey in Turkey. Phacoemulsification is the most popular method for cataract surgery. 0.3 or worse Snellen line visual acuity is needed for decision to surgery and postoperatively antibiotic use preferred. Keywords : cataract survey, 2003, Turkey