Cost effectiveness of foldable multifocal intraocular lenses compared to foldable monofocal intraocular lenses for cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the cost effectiveness of foldable monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) compared to foldable multifocal IOLs in cataract surgery alongside a prospective, multicentre randomised clinical trial (RCT).


METHODS
Patients underwent cataract surgery with bilateral monofocal (n = 97) or multifocal (n = 93) IOL implantation. Cost data and patient preferences, using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the time trade-off (TTO), and the standard gamble (SG) technique were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively by structured interviews. The incremental costs (multifocal minus monofocal), mean costs per patient, and differences in preferences were computed.


RESULTS
Mean costs for glasses per patient in the monofocal group were 41.67 and in the multifocal group 149.58. The difference in costs between the multifocal and monofocal group was -92.09 and was statistically significant (p = 0.008). No significant differences were found in total costs or in effectiveness between the monofocal and multifocal IOL group.


CONCLUSIONS
The cost effectiveness of multifocal IOLs is reduced to a cost minimisation analysis, because of the inability to demonstrate significant differences in effects. The use of multifocal IOLs in cataract surgery resulted in a significant reduction in costs for patient's postoperative spectacles.
Maastricht University, Department of Health Organisation, Policy and Economics - UNS 40, PO Box 616, 6200 Maastricht, Netherlands. m.dolders@beoz.unimaas.nl
M G T
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Dolders
M D
MD
Nijkamp
R M M A
RM
Nuijts
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van den Borne
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F
Hendrikse
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Ament
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Groot
D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology