Cost Analysis of Scleral Buckle and Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Retinal Detachment Surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To compare the cost and utility of scleral buckle (SB) and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) techniques for repairing moderately complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

PATIENTS MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cost-utility analysis was conducted using data from the Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study (PRO) and a study conducted by the author. Total costs, patient utility over a lifetime, and cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) were calculated for each surgical procedure.

RESULTS

The cost of scleral buckle surgery was €287.93, with an estimated lifetime QALY of 7.49. Costs per QALY were €38.44. According to the PRO study and Belin et al, total costs were $5975, with a lifetime QALY of 5.4 and costs per QALY of $1106. The cost of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was €1468.26, with an estimated lifetime QALY of 6.84 and costs per QALY of €214.65. Based on the PRO study and Belin et al, total costs were $8125, with a lifetime QALY of 4.7 and costs per QALY of $2196.

CONCLUSION

Repairing moderately complex RRD presents a highly cost-effective profile for both SB and PPV techniques, well below recommended QALY thresholds. SB demonstrated a slightly more favorable profile compared to PPV.