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US trends in refractive surgery: 2002 ISRS survey
Richard J Duffey1, David Leaming
1duffey@duffeylaser.com
Summary
Refractive surgery trends show LASIK dominating for common refractive errors. While some procedures decline, LASIK, LASEK, and lens implants show promise for the future of vision correction.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Surgical Technology
- Vision Science
Background:
- Refractive surgery is increasingly integrated into mainstream ophthalmology.
- Understanding current trends is crucial for practitioners and industry stakeholders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the latest trends in refractive surgery procedures within the United States.
- To analyze shifts in surgical techniques and technology adoption over time.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to U.S. members of the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS).
- The survey collected data on surgical volumes, procedure types, and technology preferences.
- Data from 2002 were compared with previous years' survey results (1999-2001).
Main Results:
- Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) remains the dominant procedure for refractive errors ranging from -10.00 D to +3.00 D.
- Procedures like LASIK, LASEK, clear lens extraction (CLE), phakic intraocular lenses (PIOL), and conductive keratoplasty (CK) show growth potential.
- Radial keratotomy (RK), intracorneal ring segments (ICRS), and laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK) are declining in popularity.
Conclusions:
- Refractive surgery trends continue to evolve, with LASIK maintaining its leading position.
- Emerging technologies like wavefront aberrometry and custom ablations are currently underutilized but expected to grow.
- VISX lasers are preferred over other brands, and instrumentation pupillometry is favored over pupil gauge cards.