Abstract

BACKGROUND
Cataract is the most common cause of blindness, responsible for 50 to 80% of all blindness in South-East Asia. Method of cataract surgery that has cost-effective, low technology procedure and a low complication rate in the shortest amount of time is needed. This study provides the useful resources comparing clinical outcomes and cost of phacoemulsification (PE) and manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) based on hospital perspective.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the costs and effectiveness of two-cataract-surgery methods, MSICS and PE, using the hospital's perspective.
SETTING
Department of Ophthalmology, Phrapoklao hospital, Thailand.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
This study was prospective and comparative. Data was collected from medical charts and through patient interviews using data collection forms. Labor material and capital cost were recorded for both surgical methods. The effectiveness was measured in visual acuity (VA), astigmatism and complications occurring at 90 days after surgery.
RESULTS
The average total cost was 10,043.81 bath/case for MSICS and 11,590.72 bath/case for PE. After 90 days after surgery, the average VA of MSICS and PE groups were 0.83 +/- 0.225 (0.10-1.00) and 0.76 +/- 0.268 (0.06-1.00). There was no statistically significant difference in both groups. The average astigmatism at 90 days after surgery was 1.01 +/- 0.733 (0.00-3.50) D and 0.99 +/- 0.713 (0.00-4.25) D for MSICS and PE method. The average change in astigmatism was 0.15 and 0.20 D for the MSICS and PE groups. The intraoperative complication was vitreous loss (1.40%) in the PE group. The postoperative complication was corneal edema (5.60%) in the MSICS group. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of postoperative complications in both groups (p = 0.16).
CONCLUSION
The effectiveness of MSICS and PE methods was not significantly different, but PE method had higher costs. Therefore, MSICS has better cost-effectiveness than PE thus, MSICS should be a preferred cataract surgery method to PE method, based on the hospital's perspective.

Authors

Jongsareejit A, Wiriyaluppa C, Kongsap P, Phumipan S

Institution

Department of Ophthalmology, Prasat Neurological Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. ampornj@gmail.com

Source

Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet 95:2 2012 Feb pg 212-20

MeSH

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Astigmatism
Cataract Extraction
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Phacoemulsification
Prospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
Visual Acuity

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22435252