Predictors of Price Transparency for Cataract Surgery and Laser Posterior Capsulotomy at Academic Hospitals in the United States.

PURPOSE: To describe the characteristics of United States (US) academic hospitals that predict transparency of cash and commercial payer-negotiated prices for cataract surgery (CS) and laser posterior capsulotomy (LPC). METHODS: A systematic review of websites for hospitals affiliated with ophthalmology residency programs was conducted to determine price transparency. Hospital characteristics were extracted from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey and Turquoise Health. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, χ2 tests, and logistic regression analyses were used to compare hospitals based on price transparency for CS and LPC. RESULTS: There were no differences in price transparency for CS and LPC based on net income, urban-rural classification, region, hospital beds, or surgical operations. Having more full-time personnel was associated with cash price transparency. No differences were identified between hospitals based on payer-negotiated price transparency. CONCLUSIONS: Academic hospitals for ophthalmology with more full-time personnel had greater cash price transparency for CS and LPC. However, price transparency did not vary for other characteristics.

ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL MASKING.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rates of postintravitreal injection-related endophthalmitis during the COVID-19 pandemic with institution of both physician and patient face masking. METHODS: All eyes receiving intravitreal injections of any kind from a single large tertiary retina practice in Houston, TX before (August 2017-March 22, 2020) and after (March 23, 2020-September 2020) COVID-19 pandemic universal masking protocols. The total number of injections and cases of acute injection-related endophthalmitis were determined from billing records and subsequent retrospective chart review. The primary outcome was the rate of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injection. Secondary outcomes included visual acuity, time until initial presentation, patient age, and differences in the overall number of injections performed monthly pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 134, 097 intravitreal injections were performed during the study period (111,679 pre-COVID-19 and 22,418 post-COVID-19 masking protocols). A total of 41 cases of acute endophthalmitis occurred in the pre-COVID group (0.04%, one in 2,500) and 7 cases in the post-COVID group (0.03%, one in 3,333) P = 0.85. CONCLUSION: In this single center, retrospective study, the implementation of universal patient and physician masking as practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly affect the rate of postintravitreal injection endophthalmitis.