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Key findings
On average, doctors reported an annual volume of
152 laser vision correction surgeries, including LASIK,
PRK, and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).
Non-U.S. ophthalmologists perform a higher volume of
laser refractive surgeries annually, 171 compared to 138.
Nearly half (49%) of respondents do not offer laser vision
correction surgery.
Of those who are performing corneal refractive surgery,
88% of U.S. doctors have wavefront-guided or -optimized
systems. Non-U.S. doctors are four times more likely to
perform standard ablations compared to U.S. surgeons,
28% to 7%, respectively.
Corneal refractive surgery
The most interesting finding regarding
laser vision correction is that half of
the ophthalmologists polled do not
perform LASIK, PRK, or SMILE. As
patient expectations have increased
and premium cataract surgery has
expanded, there is an enormous unmet
need to provide refractive enhancements
to our patients. Refractive corneal
surgery has never been safer or more
effective. For those ophthalmologists
currently performing refractive corneal
surgery, you have the tools necessary
to be successful. For the 50% not
performing refractive corneal surgery,
you should partner with someone who
performs these procedures, or better
yet, this would be a good time to
consider adding this to your own
surgical repertoire.
Eric Donnenfeld, MD, advisor,
Refractive Clinical Committee
12 • 2017 ASCRS Clinical Survey
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