Initial Treatment of Glaucoma with Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: Economic Impact from the Perspective of the Brazilian Public Health System.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the economic impact on the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) of the initial treatment of glaucoma in two scenarios: (1) the traditional continuous clinical treatment with hypotensive eye drops and (2) the single treatment with Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. Methods: Economic impact analysis was conducted in three scenarios, from the least to the most conservative, for the two initial treatment methods for open-angle glaucoma in a hypothetical cohort of 5,000 individuals. Projections were then made based on a prevalence of 3% of the Brazilian population in 2021. Results: All three scenarios analyzed showed a significantly lower economic impact for Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty on the Brazilian Public Health System over one to five years, with a favorable difference of more than 8 billion US dollars over five years when considering 3% of the Brazilian population over 40 years old in 2021. Conclusion: The economic impact on the Brazilian Public Health System was lower for Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty compared to the use of latanoprost and timolol maleate eye drops as the initial treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma in all scenarios studied over one and five-year periods.