Trends in Widefield Fundus Photography and Optical Coherence Tomography Examination in South Korea (2015-2024)

To understand the nationwide utilization trends of widefield fundus photography (WFP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in South Korea from 2015 to 2024.

This retrospective observational study analyzed national insurance claims data from the Health and Medical Big Data Open System. Data for WFP and OCT were retrieved using their procedure code. We examined the annual number of patients and total examinations, stratified by age, sex, and healthcare facility type. Medical expenses were also analyzed.

Between 2015 and 2024, the number of patients undergoing WFP and OCT increased 11.5-fold (from 334,034 to 3,842,168) and 4.8-fold (from 682,893 to 3,256,514), respectively. Examination volumes grew even more sharply, with a 14.1- fold increase (from 907,009 to 12,796,731) for WFP and 5.9-fold (from 1,821,858 to 10,820,336) for OCT. Women consistently had higher utilization rates than men. Patients aged 50 to 79 years accounted for the majority of both WFP (>60%) and OCT (>70%) procedures, with the 70 to 79 age group showing the highest usage. Medical costs rose 17.6-fold for WFP and 7.4-fold for OCT. The proportion of procedures conducted in primary care settings also rose significantly, from 45.2% to 65.9% for WFP and from 43.4% to 57.9% for OCT.

The use of WFP and OCT in South Korea has markedly increased over the past decade, especially among older adults and in primary care settings. This trend reflects aging demographics, improved access, and policy changes, highlighting the need for efficient resource planning.