2013 survey of ESCRS members: results and trends

Session Details

Session Title: Cataract Surgery Practice Styles

Session Date/Time: Wednesday 17/09/2014 | 08:00-09:30

Paper Time: 08:44

Venue: Boulevard B

First Author: : D.Leaming USA

Co Author(s): :                  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The purpose of the survey is to document the present practice styles of EU members of the ESCRS and look for variances by country and also to look for trends. The results will also be compared, when possible, with past ASCRS members’ surveys.

Setting:

An internet based practice style survey sent to EU members of the ESCRS

Methods:

2924 survey invitations were e mailed to EU members in November 2013, 486 members completed the survey for a 17% response rate. The data was analyzed and forms the basis for this report. The survey had questions with respect to surgical volume for various ophthalmic procedures, practice style questions, surgical techniques, equipment preferences, medication use and refractive surgery questions. The results were cross tabbed against the surgeons’ countries to look for variances. The results were also compared to previous ESCRS and ASCRS surveys to look for trends.

Results:

Slow growth of femtosecond cataract surgery continue increasing only 3% over the previous year. Lack of cost effectiveness is the number one thing keeping members from using the femtosecond laser. About half of the members are using a non toric multifocal lOL that has shown little growth over the last few years but the toric multifocal use has increased 7% over the previous year. Members seem to be waiting for a better presbyopia correction IOL since of those who are not using them 61% plan to use them in the future. Use of intracameral antibiotics has grown from 26% usage in 2004 to 72% use last year . Small glaucoma implants were used by 19% of members in 2013. Bilateral same day cataract surgery has shown little growth over the last 3 years at 9%. The monofocal aspheric IOL is the implant the majority of ophthalmologists would choose for themselves if they had little astigmatism. If they had 1.5 diopters of astigmatism the monofocal toric IOL would be the first choice. Chloramphenicol remains the number one antibiotic with cataract surgery in Europe and dexamethasone the number one steroid. Laser refractive surgery has shown little growth.

Conclusions:

Surgical ophthalmology remains a very dynamic practice and by looking at our practice patterns we have a better idea of where we may be going in the future and how quickly new techniques are being adapted. Full details of the survey are available at leamingsurveys.com.

Financial Interest:

One or more of the authors... receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented