The cost of vision for vitreoretinal interventions

Abstract

Although improved understanding of basic, cellular processes has led to markedly improved treatment options for age-related macular degeneration within the past decade, the high costs and wide applicability threaten the balance and viability of the payor system. Accurate means of assessing cost-effectiveness are critical to defining clinical applications.

Costs of Newly Diagnosed Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Among Medicare Beneficiaries, 2004–2008

“…Pegaptanib was approved in 2004, use of bevacizumab for AMD began in 2005, and ranibizumab was approved in mid-2006. 3 Although several studies have evaluated the costeffectiveness of therapies for neovascular AMD, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] total costs and resource use associated with the condition are not well understood. Two reviews published in 2006 emphasized the need for additional research to quantify both the direct and indirect costs of AMD.…”