[Model for cost-benefit relations of amblyopia screening].
OBJECTIVE
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.


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.
Barry
J C
JC
Augenklinik, RWTH Aachen.
Hartmann
A
A
Pongs
U M
UM
Jöckel
M
M
D000550:Amblyopia / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013285:Strabismus / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000191:economics*
Modell für das Nutzen-Kosten-Verhältnis des Amblyopie-Screenings.