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Trends in Refractive Surgery: The 2003 ASCRS Survey

Each year, Richard J. Duffey, M.D., of Mobile, Ala., and David Leaming, M.D., of Palm Springs, Calif., survey the membership of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) to collect data on surgeons' preferences relating to such key issues as favored procedures, choice of lasers, and the potential of custom ablation.

"The 2003 survey was the first in which we received some real numbers on surgeons' adoption of wavefront and custom ablation," says Dr. Duffey. "Both wavefront and custom LASIK have caught on very quickly, with 52% of survey respondents doing custom procedures routinely. You also have to remember that the surveys were returned in late 2003, so I strongly suspect that the percentage of surgeons doing custom procedures is even higher now."

Of those surgeons responding to the survey, 69% said they saw custom LASIK adding at least some level of value to their refractive practice, with the average respondent charging $300 to $500 more per eye for performing a custom procedure.

New Antibiotics Accepted

In another area, adoption of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones has been rapid, with the survey showing that Zymar and Vigamox are already capturing about 65% of the post-refractive antibiotic market.

Survey findings also indicate that LASIK dominates procedures between -8D and +3D, and that performing bilateral LASIK in one visit is now standard.

And VISX continues its dominance as the "most-used" excimer laser, with more procedures than all other lasers combined.

About this data: The responses included in this survey result from a mailing to 5,000 U.S. members of ASCRS in September 2003. A total of 509 responses were received, representing 11% of ASCRS membership. The 2003 survey represented the seventh year of refractive data collection, allowing analysis and comparison of trends among ASCRS U.S. surgeons