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Global rates of glaucoma surgery

  • Glaucoma
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To estimate global rates of glaucoma surgery.

Methods

National glaucoma and national ophthalmology societies were contacted to obtain rates of glaucoma surgery for the preceding 5 years. In countries without a professional society, leading ophthalmologists or non-governmental organizations (NGO) were approached. When available, published literature was used for the estimates. Three levels of evidence were assigned: published data from central government or insurance registries (level I), estimates provided by a national professional society based on survey of members (level II), and estimates based on data from individual glaucoma surgeons (level III). Glaucoma surgical rate (GSR) was defined as the annual number of total glaucoma surgeries performed per million population. Linear regression analysis was performed between GSR and the following parameters: population per ophthalmologist, per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and per capita health expenditures.

Results

Seventy-three glaucoma societies, 35 ophthalmology societies, as well as six NGOs and 37 leading ophthalmologists (11 other countries) were contacted. Data were obtained from 38 countries (10 level I, 23 level II, and 5 lev el III) with a total population of 1.723 billion. The average GSR was 139.2 ± 113.1 (range, 2.9–500.0). There was a positive correlation between GSR and GDP (r2 = 0.309, P = 0.0004) and GSR and the number of ophthalmologists (r2 = 0.476, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

There is a paucity of data on rates of glaucoma surgery, particularly from developing countries. The new metric GSR may be useful for the allocation of healthcare resources, as well as for planning and monitoring public health interventions in glaucoma.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the gracious efforts of numerous national glaucoma and ophthalmological societies as well as individuals in collection of the data presented in this survey. Also, supported in part by Research to Prevent Blindness, New York, NY.

Financial disclosures

K Mansouri, research and financial support from Sensimed AG; FA Medeiros, research and financial support from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Pfizer, Inc. Reichert, Inc., Depew, NY, USA; RN Weinreb, research and financial support from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA, USA; Heidelberg Engineering, GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany; Optovue, Inc., Fremont, CA, USA; Topcon Medical Systems, Inc., Livermore, CA, USA; Nidek, Aichi, Japan.

Financial support

This study was supported by a grant from the Velux Foundation, Zürich, Switzerland (KM).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hamilton Glaucoma Center and the Shiley Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA

    Kaweh Mansouri, Felipe A. Medeiros & Robert N. Weinreb

  2. Glaucoma sector, Department of Ophthalmology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

    Kaweh Mansouri

  3. Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0946, USA

    Kaweh Mansouri

Authors
  1. Kaweh Mansouri
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  2. Felipe A. Medeiros
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  3. Robert N. Weinreb
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kaweh Mansouri.

Additional information

Contributions of authors

Design of the study (KM, RNW); conduct of the study (KM); statistical expertise (KM, FAM); writing the article (KM); critical revision of the article and final approval (KM, FAM, RNW); provision of materials, patients, or resources (KM, RNW).

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Mansouri, K., Medeiros, F.A. & Weinreb, R.N. Global rates of glaucoma surgery. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 251, 2609–2615 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-013-2464-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-013-2464-7

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