Trends in Ophthalmic Surgery from 1998 to 2004
Author Information
Author(s): Lucy C Clarke, Scott G Fraser
Primary Institution: Sunderland Eye Infirmary
Hypothesis
The study aims to observe trends in ophthalmic operations performed during the period from 1998 to 2004 using Hospital Episode Statistics data.
Conclusion
The HES database is a valuable resource for observing trends in ophthalmic surgery, though its data has limitations due to coding inconsistencies.
Supporting Evidence
- Orbital decompressions increased by nearly 40% from 1998 to 2004.
- Ptosis surgeries increased by 54% during the same period.
- Filtering operations for glaucoma declined by 46%.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many eye surgeries were done in the UK from 1998 to 2004 and found some types of surgeries are becoming more common while others are less so.
Methodology
Data was analyzed from the HES database focusing on 28 specific ophthalmic operations.
Potential Biases
Local variations in coding practices may lead to inaccuracies in the data.
Limitations
The validity of the data is questioned due to coding inconsistencies and the lack of a clear definition for the 'main operation'.
Participant Demographics
Data includes information from over three hundred NHS trusts, but specific demographics are not detailed.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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