Cost-effectiveness of ISBCS vs. DSBCS

Cost-effectiveness of Immediately Versus Delayed Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (ISBCS vs. DSBCS)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and costs of immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) compared to delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS) in order to determine whether ISBCS is an effective and cost-effective alternative to DSBCS.

With an estimated number of 180,000 cataract extractions per year in the Netherlands, cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed types of surgery. The majority of patients suffer from bilateral cataract and while cataract surgery of one eye is effective in restoring functional vision, second-eye surgery leads to further improvement in health-related quality of life. Currently, most patients undergo cataract surgery in both eyes on separate days as recommended in national guidelines, referred to as delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS). An alternative procedure involves cataract surgery of both eyes on the same day, but as separate procedures, known as immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS). Potential benefits of ISBCS include less time between surgeries, a faster total recovery period and lower costs. Potential risks, however, are complications of cataract surgery in general, most importantly the risk of endophthalmitis and refractive surprise. In ISBCS, both eyes are at risk at the same time, while in DSBCS both eyes are exposed to these risks consecutively. Since there is no consensus yet about the role of ISBCS in current regular practice, further investigation of functional and surgical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of ISBCS compared to DSBCS is required. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and costs of ISBCS compared to DSBCS, in order to determine whether ISBCS is an effective and cost-effective alternative to DSBCS.

The usual care / control group will undergo cataract surgery of both eyes on separate days, with a time period of at least two weeks between surgeries (DSBCS).

The usual care / control group will undergo cataract surgery in both eyes on separate days, with a time period of at least two weeks between surgeries.

Proportion of patients in both treatment groups with a postoperative refraction in the second eye that deviates 1.0 diopters (D) from target refraction

Proportion of patients in both treatment groups with a postoperative refraction in the second eye that deviates 0.5 diopters (D) from target refraction

Patient satisfaction and vision-specific quality of life as measured by National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25).

Calculated based on generic health-related quality of life, using the EQ-5D-5L and HUI-3 questionnaires

Cost per patient, including valuation of resource use by using the Dutch guidelines for cost-analyses or cost prices provided by the medical center.

Reported as a difference in costs. Different scenario's will be compared to investigate the impact of various levels of implementation (e.g. 25%, 50%, 75% of eligible patients).

Inclusion Criteria: Bilateral cataract Indication for bilateral cataract surgery Expected uncomplicated surgery Exclusion Criteria: Inability to comply with study procedures or to complete follow-up / Dutch questionnaires. Non-routine cataract surgery Cognitive or behavioural conditions that might interfere with surgery Cataract surgery with premium IOL implantation Conditions that increase the risk of endophthalmitis (e.g. current ocular/adnexal/periocular infections, immune-compromised, iodine allergy) Factors that increase the risk of refractive surprise (e.g. axial lengths <21mm or >27mm, difference between eyes of >1.5mm, abnormal keratometry readings, previous refractive surgery) Conditions that increase the risk of corneal edema Factors that increase the risk of complicated surgery (e.g. previous surgery, trauma, anatomical abnormalities) Sight-threatening comorbidity, Glaucoma or IOP > 24mmHg, Uveitis, Diabetes with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema

Spekreijse LS, Simons RWP, Winkens B, van den Biggelaar FJHM, Dirksen CD, Nuijts RMMA. Cost-effectiveness of immediate versus delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery in the Netherlands (the BICAT-NL study): study design of a prospective multicenter randomised controlled trial. BMC Ophthalmol. 2020 Jun 29;20(1):257. doi: 10.1186/s12886-020-01521-x.