title: Profitability analysis of a femtosecond laser system for cataract surgery using a fuzzy logic approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the financial and management conditions required to introduce a femtosecond laser system for cataract surgery in a clinic using a fuzzy logic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the simulation performed in the current study, the costs associated to the acquisition and use of a commercially available femtosecond laser platform for cataract surgery (VICTUS, TECHNOLAS Perfect Vision GmbH, Bausch & Lomb, Munich, Germany) during a period of 5y were considered. A sensitivity analysis was performed considering such costs and the countable amortization of the system during this 5y period. Furthermore, a fuzzy logic analysis was used to obtain an estimation of the money income associated to each femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (G).
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the sensitivity analysis, the femtosecond laser system under evaluation can be profitable if 1400 cataract surgeries are performed per year and if each surgery can be invoiced more than $500. In contrast, the fuzzy logic analysis confirmed that the patient had to pay more per surgery, between $661.8 and $667.4 per surgery, without considering the cost of the intraocular lens (IOL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A profitability of femtosecond laser systems for cataract surgery can be obtained after a detailed financial analysis, especially in those centers with large volumes of patients. The cost of the surgery for patients should be adapted to the real flow of patients with the ability of paying a reasonable range of cost.
authors: Department of Financial Economic and Accounting, Miguel Hernández University, Elche 03202, Alicante, Spain.
authors: José Antonio
authors: JA
authors: Trigueros
authors: Department of Optics, Pharmacology and Anatomy, University of Alicante, Crta San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante 03690, Spain.
authors: David P
authors: DP
authors: Piñero
authors: Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt.
authors: Mahmoud M
authors: MM
authors: Ismail
keywords: cataract surgery; femto-cataract; femtosecond laser; fuzzy logic; profitability analysis; victus