ABSTRACT Objective: To assess medication-related costs in patients with open-angle glaucoma subjected to iStent inject®. Methods: Retrospective study of patients with early-stage open-angle glaucoma who underwent iStent inject® implantation within the Brazilian private healthcare system and were followed for a period of 1 to 5 years. The study population comprised 234 patients with a mean age of 68.4 years old. The capacity to reduce intraocular pressure, amount of antiglaucoma medications required, and monthly cost of the necessary antiglaucoma medications during […]

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) on resource savings and medication costs. Methods: Retrospective study of patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) who underwent SLT as a replacement therapy for eye drops and were followed for up to 1 year. The ability to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) and the amount of eye drops were evaluated, as well as the monthly cost of medications during the follow-up. The annual cost of medications was also calculated. The results […]

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the cost-utility of the iStent inject® for the treatment of mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma (OAG) within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Methods A Markov model was developed, in which the effectiveness outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER: R$ / QALY quality-adjusted life-year). Direct medical costs were obtained from the SUS perspective. The base case comprised of a hypothetical cohort of patients with OAG using topical medication and being managed according to the Clinical Protocol […]

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is estimated that 23% of the Brazilian population does not have access to an ophthalmologist, mainly because of the irregular geographical distribution of experts. It may be expensive to train ophthalmologists in Brazil. Objective: To estimate the cost of training an ophthalmologist and the labor market conditions so that the provider recovers the investment. Methods: Epidemiological study in databases from governmental sources and institutions related to the eye health system regulation. Results: The cost for training an […]

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the economic impact of reducing glaucoma progression by using the trabecular micro-bypass implant, iStent inject®, in the Reference Centers for glaucoma treatment within the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS). Methods In a cost-effectiveness analysis, a Markov model was developed, and the costs were obtained from the SUS perspective (medical direct costs). Effectiveness was measured in progression-free life-years. The time horizon was the mean life expectancy of the Brazilian population. The model parameters were obtained through […]

Abstract Objective: The second leading cause of blindness worldwide, glaucoma, occasionally requires surgical procedure for control. Given that Brazil has an Unified Health System (SUS) and a political-economic crisis in 2016, we aim to evaluate the financial impact on the therapeutic decision of glaucoma in the last 6 years in Brazil, and to consider the current discussion about early interventionist indication in its therapeutic algorithm. Methods: Ecological study of the Brazilian population, based on the SUS Hospital Information System, evaluating […]

Purpose: To present a model of cost allocation for ophthalmic clinics services using cost versus price approach and to evaluate the cost information as a management tool as well as an instrument for cost control and decision-making. Methods: The model was tested applying various costing methodologies: absorption costing, full costing, direct costing and activity based costing. Cost allocation systems were installed in three ophthalmic clinics services with the objective of arriving at the cost of procedures conducted in the period […]

PURPOSE: To compare the costs of cataract surgery for a public hospital, the government and the society between the techniques of phacoemulsification (PHACO) and extracapsular cataract extraction (EECP). METHODS: A review based on several clinical studies between 2002 and 2010 at the Ambulatorial Surgical Center of the University of São Paulo. RESULTS: The estimated expenses associated with medical supplies used for surgery were R$ 468.92 and R$ 259.96 in the PHACO and EECP groups respectivelly. The hospital expenditures in the […]