title: Value-based medicine and ophthalmology: an appraisal of cost-utility analyses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the extent to which ophthalmologic interventions have been evaluated in value-based medicine format.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective literature review. Papers in the healthcare literature utilizing cost-utility analysis were reviewed by researchers at the Center for Value-Based Medicine, Flourtown, Pennsylvania. A literature review of papers addressing the cost-utility analysis of ophthalmologic procedures in the United States over a 12-year period from 1992 to 2003 was undertaken using the National Library of Medicine and EMBASE databases. The cost-utility of ophthalmologic interventions in inflation-adjusted (real) year 2003 US dollars expended per quality-adjusted life-year (dollars/QALY) was ascertained in all instances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19 papers were found, including a total of 25 interventions. The median cost-utility of ophthalmologic interventions was 5,219 dollars/QALY, with a range from 746 dollars/QALY to 6.5 million dollars/QALY.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of ophthalmologic interventions are especially cost-effective by conventional standards. This is because of the substantial value that ophthalmologic interventions confer to patients with eye diseases for the resources expended.
authors.affiliation: Center for Value-Based Medicine, Flourtown, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Gary C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smithen
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Leeser
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000191:economics*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction