Objective: Demonstrate eventual differences and evaluate the medical costs of treatment of a cataract in traditional hospitalisation and out-patient surgical conditions.
Methods: We conducted a study of minimisation costs in 3 ophthalmologic hospital departments. This retrospective study randomly selected the medical files of 250 patients (100 operated in the out-patient surgical department and 150 operated in traditional surgical conditions). Costs were evaluated on direct hospital costs, according to the standard costs method and the method of true costs.
Results: The mean total cost of a cataract is of 10,984 F in traditional hospital conditions and of 7,683 F in out-patient surgical conditions.
Discussion: In terms of direct hospital costs, treatment of cataracts in out-patient surgery appears more economic compared with traditional surgery. The difference in cost concerned the fixed hospital charges (structures and staff).
Conclusion: Out-patient surgery will progress in France in the next few years, but traditional hospitalisation will still be required in ophthalmologic practice.