Cataract
French survey links low compensation rates with declining quality of care
PARIS – Substantial differences among the health care systems of European countries make reimbursement rates for cataract surgery difficult to compare, according to a survey conducted by French ophthalmologists. However, a constant factor that emerged from the survey is that wherever compensation is low, the quality of care is declining.
Making topical anesthesia work in refractive lens exchange
Surgical solutions for presbyopia abound
The restoration of reading vision for patients with presbyopia is shaping up to be one of the most important components of lens-based refractive surgery. We increasingly hear about the emergence of the baby boomers as an entire generation of eager candidates for a permanent surgical solution. In my last column I tried to discourage this sort of hyperbolic demographic projection that could lead us to overreach and repeat the “next new thing” problem we encountered with LASIK.
Meta-analysis shows combined procedures more effective
Change is slow for Belgium’s outpatient reimbursement
ANTWERP, Belgium — Reimbursement for outpatient ophthalmic procedures has improved over time in Belgium, but the climate is still not right for freestanding outpatient facilities. Outpatient surgery is paid for by the government only if performed in a hospital’s day-surgery department, according to a surgeon who has worked for change in this policy.
Akreos Disc IOL helps prevent PCO, two studies show
Strabismus after cataract surgery a growing concern
Cell loss varies with nuclear density post phaco
Government keeps tight fists around health care budget in the Netherlands
In order to control the amount of money spent on health care, the government in the Netherlands has prearranged a set number of medical specialists permitted to practice in the country. Health care providers worry that not increasing the number of doctors to match the growing rate of the population will result in detrimental effects on the way health care procedures are performed and will limit access to health care. Long waiting lists for needed procedures are already a problem here, with some cataract patients having to wait up to a year for surgery.
Realistic expectations are important for patient satisfaction with multifocal IOLs
VENICE Patient selection is important with the Array multifocal IOL (Allergan, Irvine, U.S.A.), and the surgeon must take into account ocular health, refractive error and the patients personality and lifestyle, according to David F. Chang, MD, who spoke about multifocals at the Venice 2000 meeting, sponsored by Ocular Surgery News, the Italian Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the International Society of Refractive Surgery.