A study published in Ophthalmology found that filling an opioid prescription after ophthalmic surgery led to higher rates of hospitalization, overdose, abuse or dependency, and mortality. Researchers analyzed data from 1,577,692 patients and found that those who filled a prescription had increased risks compared to those who did not. Higher opioid doses were also associated with worse outcomes. The study highlights the potential impact of opioid prescriptions on short- and long-term systemic health after surgery, emphasizing the need for judicious prescribing practices and patient education. This research has implications for other elective surgeries as well.
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Significant risks associated with filling opioid prescription after ophthalmic surgery
