Costs of medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma.

PURPOSE To compare county costs of medical and surgical glaucoma treatment. METHODS Medical records of 470 patients who underwent trabeculectomies in 1992 were scrutinized for a period of 3 years before and 3 years after surgery (including the year of surgery). Treatment costs were based on DRG prices, and drug consumption costs on the "defined daily dose" (DDD). RESULTS The costs rose steadily during the 3 years before surgery on account of more frequent visits and examinations and increased drug consumption. Mean total cost in the preoperative period was 13,355 SEK and that in the corresponding postoperative period, including surgery, was 23,684 SEK. The number of visits post-surgery was only slightly reduced, but there was a marked decrease in medication. However, the cost of the drugs was not correspondingly lower. Thirty percent of the patients later underwent cataract extraction. CONCLUSION From a strictly economic point of view glaucoma surgery is not profitable within a 3-year postoperative period.