A recent Cochrane review of 3 randomized trials evaluated the addition of routine medical testing to standard preoperative history and physical exams prior to age-related cataract surgery.  Routine preoperative testing included electrocardiogram, complete blood count, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and blood glucose regardless of indications.  In 21,531 surgeries, there were 707 surgery-associated medical adverse events (mostly cardiovascular) including 61 hospitalizations and 3 deaths.  Routine testing was not associated with decreased risk for medical adverse events compared to selective or no testing (level 1 [likely reliable] evidence).  There were no significant differences in intraoperative medical adverse events (2.25% vs. 2.21%), postoperative adverse events (1.13% vs. 1.18%) or in surgery cancellations (1.57% vs. 1.61%).  Routine testing was associated with higher costs in the only trial that evaluated cost-effectiveness (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009 Apr 15;(2):CD007293).