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Refractive surgeons more likely than public to undergo refractive procedures
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SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. refractive surgeons are four times more likely to have refractive surgery than patients, according to the results of the U.S. trends in refractive surgery portion of the 2008 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery survey.
"Thirty percent of refractive surgeons have had a refractive procedure performed on themselves," David Leaming, MD, said. "This is four times higher than the general public."
Dr. Leaming presented results of the 2008 survey at the annual ASCRS meeting here. He said the survey, in its 13th year of existence, was mailed to 4,980 ASCRS members in September 2008. Approximately 634 replies, or 13% of the U.S. ASCRS membership, were received.
Other data collected included information regarding refractive procedures performed, methods of performance and devices used.
According to the survey, most refractive surgeons are willing to perform refractive procedures bilaterally at the same visit, making the practice commonplace, Dr. Leaming said. He noted that 14% of refractive surgeons said they would be willing to perform phakic IOL and IOL refractive lens exchange bilaterally. He said the data were somewhat remarkable because most ASCRS members would not likely perform bilateral spontaneous cataract surgery.