Health Care Use for Eye Pain.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Eye pain is a common reason for medical visits, but national data on its frequency and care patterns are lacking.
• Understanding these patterns is crucial for guiding research and clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the number of outpatient and emergency department (ED) visits for eye pain in the United States.
• To analyze patient demographics, diagnoses, and care patterns associated with eye pain visits.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cross-sectional study using National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data from 2008-2019.
• Analysis of a population-based sample of eye pain visits, including patient and clinician characteristics, diagnoses (ICD-10), and disposition.

Main Results:

• An estimated 4.6 million annual outpatient and 1.0 million annual ED visits for eye pain were recorded.
• Outpatient visits predominantly involved women over 60, while ED visits were more common in younger men. Most diagnoses were non-vision threatening.
• Ophthalmologists managed the majority of outpatient eye pain visits, with most patients receiving follow-up care.

Conclusions:

• Over 5 million eye pain visits occur annually, with a significant proportion managed in outpatient settings by ophthalmologists.
• While most eye pain diagnoses are not vision-threatening, the high volume of visits and subsequent care highlight a substantial burden on the healthcare system.
• Developing enhanced therapeutic strategies for eye pain could potentially reduce healthcare system strain and optimize patient outcomes.