CONSORT Compliance of Phacoemulsification Randomised Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review

Background Phacoemulsification surgery constitutes a large proportion of Ophthalmic procedures and continues to evolve rapidly. However, poor reporting in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) can impede interpretation and application of findings. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials - Non-pharmacological Treatments (CONSORT-NPT) guidelines aim to improve transparency, but adherence in phacoemulsification RCTs remains unclear. Methods A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 standards. Five databases were searched for phacoemulsification RCTs published between January 2023 and December 2024. Studies were assessed using the 25-item CONSORT-NPT checklist. Data on study characteristics (number of authors, journal impact factor, number of eyes, study designs) were extracted. Relationships between CONSORT scores and study characteristics were analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation and unpaired t-tests. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and GRADE framework. Results Twenty-five RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The mean CONSORT compliance score was 68.6% (range: 40.0–83.8%). Complete adherence was seen in reporting trial design, eligibility, and statistical methods, but none adequately reported implementation fidelity or protocol deviations for bias mitigation when blinding was not possible. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation existed between journal impact factor and CONSORT compliance (R² = 0.190, p = 0.0269). No significant difference was found between studies published in 2023 and 2024 (p = 0.137). Risk of bias was low or moderate; methodological quality was rated moderate or high via GRADE. Conclusions Reporting quality is moderate, with critical gaps in methodological transparency. Emphasising full adherence to CONSORT-NPT is essential to improve the quality, reproducibility, and clinical relevance of phacoemulsification research.