The cost effectiveness of selected optometric procedures.

As funding of optometric care by the government and third parties increases, more regulation of vision care is anticipated. Utilization of cost effectiveness studies may largely determine the level of optometric care acceptable to these providers. Consequently, a method of determining cost effectiveness of optometric procedures has been developed and applied to three models of optometric care. Data taken from a review of patient records are used to develop quantifiable cost criteria for a specified patient group. These criteria include actual cost, patient acceptance (satisfaction), and professional acceptance of prescribed therapy. These criteria are then applied to each model of patient care to determine which is most cost effective.