Reoperation following strabismus surgery among Medicare beneficiaries: Associations with geographic region, academic affiliation, surgeon volume, and adjustable suture technique.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the associations of strabismus surgery reoperation rates in a large national database of provider payments with geographic region, practice type and volume, and the availability of adjustable suture technique. Methods: Fee-for-service payments to providers for medicare beneficiaries having strabismus surgery between 2012 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed to identify reoperations in the same calendar year. The adjustable-suture technique was considered to be available to the patient if the patient's surgeon billed for adjustable sutures. Predictors of reoperation in the same calendar year were determined by multivariable logistic regression. Results: Availability of the adjustable suture technique was not associated with reoperation rate in multivariable analysis among 5971 patients having horizontal muscle surgery (odds ratio, [OR] 0.86, P = 0.29), 2840 patients having vertical muscle surgery (OR 0.98, P = 0.93), or 1199 patients having surgery with scarring or restriction (OR 0.86, P = 0.61). For horizontal surgery, the reoperation rate was higher in academic practices (OR 1.67), as compared with community practices, and in the South (OR 2.85) and West (OR 1.92, all P < 0.001). The reoperation rate was unchanged with surgeons in the lowest-quartile of surgical volume. Among surgeons paid for horizontal surgery, 45% of surgeons in the Northeast, the West, or Florida coded for adjustable sutures, compared with 8% of surgeons elsewhere (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The availability of the adjustable-suture technique was not associated with reoperation rate after strabismus surgery in this large national database. Having surgery by a lower-volume surgeon was not associated with a higher reoperation rate. The reoperation rate was higher when surgery was conducted in an academic practice, or in certain regions of the country. Adjustable sutures are largely a bicoastal practice.

Developing and validating a simple and cost-effective strabismus surgery simulator.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate that a nonbiologic strabismus surgery simulator is not inferior to a biologic wet lab for teaching the key steps of strabismus surgery. METHODS: A total of 41 medical students were randomly assigned to one of two groups: biologic wet lab or nonbiologic simulator. The students trained according to the group's protocol then participated in a recorded final assessment using a realistic strabismus surgery model. Two independent reviewers, masked to training method, graded the video recordings using three scoring systems: the International Council of Ophthalmology Approved-Ophthalmology Surgical Competency Assessment Rubric for Strabismus Surgery (ICO-OSCAR), the Global Rating Scale of Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS), and the Alphabetic Summary Scale (ASS). RESULTS: The primary endpoint, total ICO-OSCAR score, was 36.7 ± 2.2 for the wet lab group and 36.0 ± 2.7 for the nonbiologic group (difference in means, -0.7; one-sided 95% CI, -2.0, ∞). The lower bound of the one-sided 95% confidence interval for the difference in mean scores was -2.0, which was greater than the a priori noninferiority margin of -5.0 points. The secondary outcome measure, mean total OSATS score and ASS score, revealed no statistical significant differences between training methods (P = 0.73 and P = 0.44, resp.). CONCLUSIONS: The simple, nonbiologic strabismus surgery simulator is not inferior to the biologic wet lab with respect to total ICO-OSCAR score. It is a portable, inexpensive, and effective training tool for novice surgeons.

Strabismus surgery among Medicare beneficiaries: imputed rates of reoperation in the same calendar year.

PURPOSE: To compare strabismus surgery reoperation rates in a large national database of provider payments when the adjustable-suture technique was available and not available. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fee-for-service payments to Medicare providers for horizontal (CPT 67311) and vertical (CPT 67314) strabismus surgery in 2012 were analyzed to identify payments for reoperations in the same calendar year. The adjustable-suture technique was considered to be available to the patient if the patient's surgeon billed for adjustable sutures during the year. We determined the association of reoperation with the availability of the adjustable-suture technique and with surgeon volume. RESULTS: Patients having horizontal muscle surgery had a rate of reoperation in 2012 of 4.1% (15 of 364 patients) when the adjustable technique was available, compared with 7.1% (77 of 1,082 patients) when the adjustable technique was not available (P = 0.047). Patients having vertical muscle surgery had a rate of reoperation in 2012 of 4.1% (8 of 196 patients) when the adjustable technique was available, compared with 8.3% (38 of 458 patients) when the adjustable technique was not available (P = 0.07). Having surgery in a high-volume surgical practice was not reliably associated with reoperation rates. CONCLUSIONS: For patients having strabismus surgery, the availability of the adjustable-suture technique was associated with a lower reoperation rate in this large national database (compared with patients for whom the adjustable technique was not available). The difference was statistically significantly different from zero for horizontal muscle surgery but not for vertical muscle surgery.

Efficient referral thresholds in autorefraction-based preschool screening.

PURPOSE: To determine economically efficient referral criteria for a preschool vision-screening program using autorefraction. DESIGN: Retrospective economic evaluation of a screening protocol. METHODS: Preschoolers in 2 cities received preschool-based Retinomax screening with a standard referral protocol and as-needed comprehensive eye examinations in 2012-2013. Positive predictive values and referral criteria that minimized cost per case detected were derived using data from San Francisco. These modeled referral criteria were then retrospectively tested for cost-effectiveness against other common criteria in Oakland with sensitivity analysis. Cases were defined by American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) criteria for amblyopia risk factors. The perspective was a third-party payer. Costs were obtained from a regional insurance provider. RESULTS: In San Francisco, 3974 children were screened, 631 referred, and 412 examined. Forty-eight percent of referrals, 301 children, met more than 1 of the referral criteria. Positive predictive values ranged from 7% for myopia to 56% for astigmatism. In Oakland, 2359 children were screened and 269 were examined. When applying the modeled referral criteria derived from San Francisco to the population of Oakland, the cost per case detected was $258. When compared in Oakland, the original referral criteria and criteria based on Vision in Preschoolers study cost, respectively, $424 and $371 per additional case detected. The modeled referral criteria had a lower cost per case detected across sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: More stringent referral criteria may reduce the cost per case detected in vision screening and allow more at-risk children to be detected with the same financial resources.

Resident and fellow participation in strabismus surgery: effect of level of training and number of assistants on operative time and cost.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the level of training and number of assistants on operative time for uncomplicated, 2-muscle, horizontal strabismus surgery at an academic institution. DESIGN: Comparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 993 children and adults between the ages of 6 months and 75 years. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of strabismus surgeries performed between July 1, 2008, and December 31, 2012, by any of 3 attending surgeons assisted by a resident in the postgraduate year 3 (PGY3), fellow in the postgraduate year 5 (PGY5), or both. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operative time (minutes) and associated operative cost (dollars). RESULTS: There were 373 cases with 1 assistant and 44 cases with 2 assistants. Of all cases with 1 assistant, there were 200 cases with a PGY3 assistant an average operative time of 62.5 minutes (standard deviation [SD], 15.1) and 173 cases with a PGY5 assistant an average operative time of 59.0 minutes (SD, 14.7); the difference of 3.5 minutes was statistically significant (P = 0.02). The average operative time for all cases with 2 assistants (both PGY3 and PGY5) was 10.6 minutes longer than all cases with 1 assistant (P = 0.0002). No statistically significant variation in operative times was demonstrated when comparing cases with a PGY3 (P = 0.29) and PGY5 (P = 0.44) assistant in their respective first and last halves of the academic year, but operative times within individual quarters of the academic year were significant for PGY3 (P = 0.03) but not for PGY5 (P = 0.24) assistant cases. Operative times were significantly different for individual PGY3 (P = 0.03) but not PGY5 (P = 0.22) assistant cases. Cost per PGY3 assistant per year for additional operative time is $3141.95. CONCLUSIONS: Operative time in strabismus surgery increased with PGY3 participation and further increased with both assistants over either assistant alone. Operative times earlier in the year did not vary from those later in the year for PGY3 or PGY5 assistants. The difference in quarterly and individual PGY3 but not PGY5 assistant operative times suggests that efficiency in strabismus surgery varies by assistants with less experience or interest.

Clinical presentation of retinoblastoma in a middle-income country.

The presenting features of retinoblastoma in developing countries and their correlation with disease stage and patient survival are poorly known and they may be useful as background information for planning early diagnosis initiatives. Therefore, we undertook a retrospective review of 508 patients (467 evaluable, 296 unilateral) treated in Argentina from 1988 to 2008. Patients presented at an older age than reported from high-income countries [mean age 24 mo (range, 0 to 165 mo), 31 mo for unilateral (range, 0 to 165 mo), and 13.3 mo (range, 0 to 62 mo) for bilateral disease]. Leukocoria was the most common presenting sign (n=402, 86%). Strabismus was the only complaint in 25 (5.3%) patients. Forty-two patients (9%) presented with an enlarged eyeball and 37 (7.9%) with a red eye. Retinoblastoma was diagnosed in 22 (4.7%) asymptomatic children. These patients and those with strabismus alone were significantly younger and had a significantly better survival. Children presenting with enlarged eyeballs were significantly older and had significantly lower survival. In multivariable analysis older age and presentation with enlarged eyeballs were independently associated to advanced stage and mortality (P<0.001). Retinoblastoma is diagnosed in later stages in our setting and presentation with eye enlargement and increasing age at diagnosis correlate with worse outcome.

Quality of life and cost-utility assessment after strabismus surgery in adults.

PURPOSE: To understand the functional and psychosocial aspects of strabismus surgery, an evaluation based on the patient's perspective is essential. In this study, we assessed quality of life and utility in adult patients who had undergone strabismus surgery, and we modeled the cost of providing this intervention in order to calculate the cost-utility of strabismus surgery in adults. METHODS: The study population comprised 226 patients with strabismus aged 18 years or older who were scheduled for ocular alignment surgery at 12 facilities of the Strabismus Surgery Study Group in Japan. Survey questionnaires consisting of the Japanese versions of the Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) and 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) and utility assessment by a time trade-off method were administrated preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. On the basis of the cost model and measured utility data, the gains in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and $/QALY were estimated. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the subscale scores of the VFQ-25 and the physical and mental component summary scores of the SF-8 showed a statistically significant improvement. A significant improvement of utility was also noted: 0.82 ± 0.28 postoperatively versus 0.76 ± 0.31 preoperatively. On the basis of the life expectancy of these patients and the cost model, the surgery resulted in a mean value gain of 0.99 QALYs and a cost-utility for strabismus surgery of 1,303 $/QALY. CONCLUSIONS: By using standard tools to assess vision-associated and general health status, we confirmed the psychosocial benefits of corrective surgery for adults with strabismus. Our study concurrently demonstrated that strabismus surgery in adults is very cost-effective.

The economic value added (EVA) resulting from medical care of functional amblyopia, strabismus, (pathologies of binocular vision) and asthma.

INTRODUCTION: Value analysis in health care calculates the economic value added (EVA) that results from improvements in health and health care. Our purpose was to develop an EVA model and to apply the model to typical and hypothetical (instantaneous and perfect) cures for amblyopia, surgical strabismus and asthma, as another, but non-ophthalmological disease standard for comparison, in the United States. METHODS: The model is based on changes in utility and longevity, the associated incremental costs, and an estimate of the value of life. Univariate sensitivity analyses were performed to arrive at a plausible range of outcomes. RESULTS: For the United States, the EVA for current practice amblyopia care is 12.9B dollars (billion) per year, corresponding to a return on investment (ROI) of 10.4% per yr. With substantial increases in investment aimed at maximal improvement ("perfect cure"), the EVA is 32.7B per yr, with ROI of 5.3% per yr. The EVA for typical surgical strabismus care is 10.3B per yr. A perfect cure may yield EVA of 9.6B per yr. The EVA for asthma is 1317B per yr (ROI 20.4% per yr.., while a perfect cure may yield EVA of 110 B per yr. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the relatively large effects of incidence, utility, and longevity, while incremental costs have a relatively minor effect on the EVA. CONCLUSION: The economic value added by improvements in patient-centered outcomes is very large. Failing to make the necessary investments in research, prevention, detection, prompt treatment and rehabilitation of these diseases, at virtually any conceivable cost, appears economically, medically, morally and ethically deficient and consequently wasteful at very least economically for our society.

Child Eye Health Tertiary Facilities in Africa.

PURPOSE: The World Health Organization and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness recommends that there be 1 Child Eye Health Tertiary Facility (CEHTF) per 10 million people in developing countries. We sought to assess the current situation in Africa with regard to manpower, facilities, training, and output and to identify gaps in supportive services in CEHTFs. METHODS: A survey was conducted by sending comprehensive questionnaires to all CEHTFs across Africa. Of the 27 CEHTFs in Africa, 21 (77.8%) returned forms. RESULTS: Results show significant variability of resources (manpower, training, infrastructure, equipment, and refractive services). The mean population catchment area of the CEHTFs was 9.42 million. In 2007 the mean number of surgeries for congenital and developmental cataract, strabismus, and other conditions was 72.0, 37.1, and 169, respectively, with wide variation between the centers. Overall there were 1.26 operated boys for every girl. The mean surgical fee charged was US$117. The presence of a dedicated optometrist, childhood blindness coordinator, and a full-time anesthetist was associated with higher surgical output. CONCLUSIONS: Although the 21 CEHTFs cover an estimated population of 197 million, the number of children receiving services was generally low. Findings suggest that an additional 20 sub-Saharan countries are not large enough to support a CEHTF, and some large countries require additional facilities. Strengthening existing CEHTFs would require investment in manpower (especially support by optometrists and childhood blindness coordinators), programs to identify and refer children needing services, and internally and externally supported mechanisms to support the relatively high cost of providing this service.

The cost utility of strabismus surgery in adults.

PURPOSE: Cost-utility analysis evaluates the cost of medical care in relation to the gain in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Our purpose was to develop a cost model for surgical care for adult strabismus, to estimate the mean cost per case, to determine the associated gain in QALYs, and to perform cost-utility analysis. METHODS: A cost model incorporated surgery, pre- and postoperative care, and a mean of 1.5 procedures per patient. The gain in QALYs was based on the improvement of utility on a scale from 0 (death) to 1 (perfect health). Utility was measured through physician-conducted interviews employing a time tradeoff question (seeking to estimate the portion of life expectancy a patient would be willing to trade for being rid of disease and associated effects). The interviews were conducted before and 5 to 8 weeks after surgery in 35 strabismic patients (age 19-75 years). RESULTS: The cost model resulted in an estimated total cost of 4,254 dollars per case. A significant improvement of utility was found: 0.96 +/- 0.11 postoperatively versus 0.85 +/- 0.20 preoperatively (p = 0.00008). Based on the mean life expectancy (36.0 years) of these patients, and discounting outcomes and costs by 3% annually, this resulted in a mean value gain of 2.61 QALYs after surgery and a cost-utility for strabismus surgery of 1,632 dollas/QALY. CONCLUSIONS: In the United States, treatments <50,000 dollars/QALY are generally considered "very cost-effective." Strabismus surgery in adults falls well within this range.

Custo da facoemulsificação no projeto catarata em Itápolis, SP / Cost of phacoemulsification in the national campaing of elective cataract surgery in Itápolis, SP, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Determinar o custo médio do ato operatório da cirurgia de catarata, pela técnica de facoemulsificação com implante de lente intra-ocular (LIO), realizado durante a Campanha Nacional de Cirurgias Eletivas de Catarata, promovido pelo Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia (CBO) e Ministério da Saúde na cidade de Itápolis - SP, no hospital local, entre os meses de março a dezembro do ano de 2000. MÉTODOS: Análise de custos pré e pós-operatórios a partir de coleta de dados e cálculos inserido no trabalho que visam quantificar os resultados financeiros obtidos na cirurgia de catarata. Para isto realizou-se estudo prospectivo de caso em série. Um grupo com catarata senil submeteu-se à intervenção cirúrgica. Foram verificados neste estudo 58 cirurgias de catarata. RESULTADOS: O custo médio do ato operatório foi de R$ 485,03 ou US$ 248,05. Este valor representa o custo médio da intervenção cirúrgica propriamente dita; em que determinadas insumos, equipamentos, taxas e/ou outros serviços foram previamente determinados e utilizados para este projeto. CONCLUSAO: A técnica de facoemulsificação na cirurgia de catarata, tem-se tornado procedimento cada vez mais utilizado devido à sua comprovada eficácia, sendo método de excelência no tratamento da catarata. Apesar desta técnica encontrar-se solidificada, deparamo-nos com um problema de ordem econômica, pois o seu custo ainda a faz inacessível a uma parcela da população.

Tratamento cirúrgico do estrabismo: avaliação técnico-econômica / Strabismus surgical treatment: technical-economic evaluation

OBJETIVO: Avaliar, do ponto de vista técnico-econômico, o tratamento cirúrgico da correção do estrabismo. MÉTODOS: Procedeu-se um levantamento retrospectivo, de forma consecutiva, dos prontuários médicos da Fundação Altino Ventura - Recife/PE. Incluíram-se 100 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de estrabismo (janeiro de 2001 a fevereiro de 2003) e 100 submetidos à cirurgia de catarata (janeiro de 2003). Observou-se o tempo para a realização dos procedimentos cirúrgicos. Foi comparado o tempo para a realização das cirurgias de estrabismo com o tempo das cirurgias de catarata e a variabilidade de tempo dentre as diferentes cirurgias de estrabismo. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que o tempo cirúrgico médio para a correção de estrabismo foi maior do que o de cirurgia de catarata (77,3±27,6 min vs 58,3±12,7 min;"t" =6,26; p<0,0001). Houve variabilidade significante no tempo de realização das cirurgias de estrabismo. Nos casos de cirurgias com intervenção em até dois músculos o tempo médio foi menor que nos casos de intervenção em mais de dois músculos (66,0±16,6 min vs 97,5±31,7 min; "t" =5,56; p<0,0001). CONCLUSAO: O tempo cirúrgico maior das cirurgias de estrabismo em relação ao tempo das cirurgias de catarata dá suporte à idéia de que a remuneração de honorários daquele procedimento seja, pelo menos, equivalente ao da cirurgia de catarata. Além do mais, o fato do tempo cirúrgico médio do estrabismo ser significantemente variável, sugere que esse procedimento seja remunerado distintamente.

[Medical aspects of the squint operation as day surgery - a contribution to quality control]. / Medizinische Aspekte der Schieloperation als tageschirurgischer Eingriff - ein Beitrag zum Qualitätsmanagement.

BACKGROUND: The strained situation in the financing of our health system makes it necessary that we reassess therapeutic procedures and their management. Since the squinting operation is mainly performed in the form of day surgery in the English-language area, we followed this example and treated 112 patients in this way. Afterwards we examined their acceptance in cooperation with the Department for Interdisciplinary Quality Management. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 112 patients in whom a squinting operation had been performed in the form of day surgery, received a comprehensive questionnaire with 24 questions, which had been compiled together with the Institute for Psychology, the Institut for Social Medicine and the University Clinic for anaesthesiology. RESULTS: There was a very high acceptance and a positive feedback so that for 3 years now we reserve one day per week for squinting operations in the form of day surgical performance.

Developmental delay and poverty in the strabismus clinic.

BACKGROUND: Strabismus and poverty are more common among developmentally delayed children. Poverty is difficult to define, but qualification for Medicaid benefits has been used as an indicator in the past. METHODS: There was a retrospective review of 95 patients with strabismus younger than 7 years who were seen in the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Albany Medical Center for a 12-month period and were reviewed for the presence or absence of developmental delay. These patients were selected from 2 groups: one with Medicaid coverage and one without. RESULTS: Developmental delays were noted in 13 patients without Medicaid (27.0%) and in 26 patients with Medicaid (55.3%) (P = .0096). Patients with Medicaid were less likely to name Allen pictures by age 3 years (P = .0003). CONCLUSIONS: Poverty is more commonly associated with delays in patients with strabismus, and this should alert ophthalmologists who work with Medicaid patients to seek to identify the presence of developmental delay in managing the care of these patients.

[Model for cost-benefit relations of amblyopia screening]. / Modell für das Nutzen-Kosten-Verhältnis des Amblyopie-Screenings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In Germany, 750,000 children are born per year who should be screened for developmental visual defects in the age range 24-48 months. However, the established pediatric screening program is not sufficient to prevent amblyopia. The purpose of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of alternatives for amblyopia and microtropia screening. METHODS: Three options were compared: (1) an orthoptic screening carried out in the field, for instance in kindergartens, (2) an examiner-independent objective apparatus-based screening, and (3) a complete ophthalmological and strabismological examination carried out in a practice. The costs of screening, follow-up examinations and of the treatment were modelled for prevalences of 1% (microtropia) and 5% (amblyopia). The benefit due to treatment was calculated as the result of an avoided whole-person impairment of 3% and 1%. The income related, increased tax and health care payments were used to cover the costs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In options (1) and (2) there were favorable cost-effective ratios. The practice-based option 3 was economically less promising. The higher the prevalence was, the higher the resulting cost-effectiveness.

Methodology for a randomised controlled trial of preschool vision screening. A new approach with the 'ALSPAC' project.

We present the methodology of a population-based Randomised Controlled Trial, comparing an intensive programme of primary preschool vision screening by orthoptists with the usual non-specialist screening. The aims of the trial are to compare the effectiveness and costs of intensive orthoptic screening with non-specialist measures. The orthoptic screening programme will be evaluated both as a composite package and in terms of the screening value of the individual tests at specific ages. This trial is nested within a large population-based longitudinal study. Additional demographic and developmental data on the children in the trial are therefore available. The results of the trial will be used to help clarify which methods of preschool ophthalmic population screening are best in terms of disease detection and cost efficiency.

[Treatment of strabismus in ambulatory surgery]. / La cure de strabisme en chirurgie ambulatoire.

Since april 1993, we have an out-patient surgery department in our university hospital. We report our experience of out-patient surgery in 80 strabismic patients> We have divided the 80 patients in a pediatric group and an adult group. We describe the conditions of admission for out-patient surgery, the method of anesthesia, the development of the procedure. Surgical techniques do not differ from those used in hospitalized patients. We report our statistics concerning age, diagnosis, type and length of surgery of our 80 patients. The lack of complications and the satisfaction of our patients convince us to carry on out-patient surgery for strabismus.