title: Cost of intraocular lens versus contact lens treatment after unilateral congenital cataract surgery in the infant aphakia treatment study at age 5 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze differences in the cost of treatment for infants randomized to primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation versus optical correction with a contact lens (CL) after unilateral cataract surgery in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study (IATS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cost analysis of a prospective, randomized clinical trial based on Georgia Medicaid reimbursement data as well as actual costs of supplies used during the study, adjusted for inflation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The IATS is a multicenter (n = 12), randomized clinical trial comparing the optical treatment of aphakia with either primary IOL implantation (n = 57) or CL correction (n = 57) in 114 infants with unilateral congenital cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fourteen infants underwent unilateral cataract surgery and were either corrected optically by primary IOL implantation at the time of surgery or were corrected with a CL after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mean cost of cataract surgery and all additional surgeries, examinations, and supplies used up to 5 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year treatment cost of an infant with a unilateral congenital cataract corrected optically with an IOL was $27 090 versus $25 331 for a patient treated with a CL after initial cataract surgery. The total cost of supplies was $3204 in the IOL group versus $7728 in the CL group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unilateral cataract surgery in infancy coupled with primary IOL implantation is approximately 7% more expensive than aphakia and CL correction. Patient costs are more than double with CL versus IOL treatment.
authors.affiliation: Stacey J. Kruger, MD, & Associates, P.A., Miami, Florida. Electronic address: skruger@childeyecare.com.
authors.forename: Stacey J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Lindreth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DuBois
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Edmund R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Lorri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Storm Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: M Edward
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D001036:Aphakia, Postcataract / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000191:economics*; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000191:economics*; D009819:Office Visits; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000191:economics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology