Delayed treatment of glaucoma increases cost of care

Attempts to delay glaucoma progression will lower the cost of care, according to a study published last month in the Archives of Ophthalmology. Investigators reviewed 151 records of patients with primary open-angle or normal-tension glaucoma, suspected glaucoma, or ocular hypertension.

As disease severity worsened, investigators found increases in direct ophthalmology-related resource use (i.e., ophthalmology visits, glaucoma surgeries, and medication use).

Investigators also found the average direct cost of treatment ranged from $625 per year for patients with suspected glaucoma or early-stage glaucoma compared with $2,511 per year for end-stage glaucoma.