The Influence of Lunar Phases on Complications in Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of 16,965 Patients
Purpose. Popular beliefs exert an impact of lunar phases on elective surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate potential correlations between complications in cataract surgery and the phases of the moon during its passage through the zodiac and Fridays that fall on the 13th. Methods. Patients wi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ophthalmology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/1946527 |
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| author | Eva-Maria Faschinger Pia Veronika Vécsei-Marlovits Dieter Franz Rabensteiner Birgit Weingessel |
| author_facet | Eva-Maria Faschinger Pia Veronika Vécsei-Marlovits Dieter Franz Rabensteiner Birgit Weingessel |
| author_sort | Eva-Maria Faschinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose. Popular beliefs exert an impact of lunar phases on elective surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate potential correlations between complications in cataract surgery and the phases of the moon during its passage through the zodiac and Fridays that fall on the 13th. Methods. Patients with complications during cataract surgery were extracted retrospectively from the clinical database from 2010 to 2014. The dates of surgeries were viewed in relation to the phase and the position of the moon (sign of the zodiac). Results. Of 16,965 cataract surgeries, 132 eyes developed complications. 0.70% developed complications with a waxing moon, and 0.87% with a waning moon (p=0.745). After Bonferroni correction, there were no statistically significant differences between the numbers of complications under the different signs of the zodiac and no complications on Fridays that fell on the 13th. Conclusions. The analysis of “non-moon-fitting days” for surgery showed quantitative differences, without statistically significant findings. Our results revealed more complications when the moon was waning, which is in contrast to esoteric belief. Patients may be informed that phases of the moon, signs of the zodiac, or a particular date will have no impact on their surgeries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bbf440fcef894f469bb358800885917d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-004X 2090-0058 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bbf440fcef894f469bb358800885917d2025-02-03T00:59:20ZengWileyJournal of Ophthalmology2090-004X2090-00582017-01-01201710.1155/2017/19465271946527The Influence of Lunar Phases on Complications in Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of 16,965 PatientsEva-Maria Faschinger0Pia Veronika Vécsei-Marlovits1Dieter Franz Rabensteiner2Birgit Weingessel3Department of Ophthalmology, KH Hietzing, Wolkersbergenstrasse 1, 1130 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Ophthalmology, KH Hietzing, Wolkersbergenstrasse 1, 1130 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 4, 8036 Graz, AustriaDepartment of Ophthalmology, KH Hietzing, Wolkersbergenstrasse 1, 1130 Vienna, AustriaPurpose. Popular beliefs exert an impact of lunar phases on elective surgery. The aim of our study was to evaluate potential correlations between complications in cataract surgery and the phases of the moon during its passage through the zodiac and Fridays that fall on the 13th. Methods. Patients with complications during cataract surgery were extracted retrospectively from the clinical database from 2010 to 2014. The dates of surgeries were viewed in relation to the phase and the position of the moon (sign of the zodiac). Results. Of 16,965 cataract surgeries, 132 eyes developed complications. 0.70% developed complications with a waxing moon, and 0.87% with a waning moon (p=0.745). After Bonferroni correction, there were no statistically significant differences between the numbers of complications under the different signs of the zodiac and no complications on Fridays that fell on the 13th. Conclusions. The analysis of “non-moon-fitting days” for surgery showed quantitative differences, without statistically significant findings. Our results revealed more complications when the moon was waning, which is in contrast to esoteric belief. Patients may be informed that phases of the moon, signs of the zodiac, or a particular date will have no impact on their surgeries.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/1946527 |
| spellingShingle | Eva-Maria Faschinger Pia Veronika Vécsei-Marlovits Dieter Franz Rabensteiner Birgit Weingessel The Influence of Lunar Phases on Complications in Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of 16,965 Patients Journal of Ophthalmology |
| title | The Influence of Lunar Phases on Complications in Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of 16,965 Patients |
| title_full | The Influence of Lunar Phases on Complications in Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of 16,965 Patients |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Lunar Phases on Complications in Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of 16,965 Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Lunar Phases on Complications in Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of 16,965 Patients |
| title_short | The Influence of Lunar Phases on Complications in Cataract Surgery: An Analysis of 16,965 Patients |
| title_sort | influence of lunar phases on complications in cataract surgery an analysis of 16 965 patients |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/1946527 |
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