PhD Defence Rob Wilhelmus Petrus Simons

Keywords: Cost-effectiveness, cornea, cataract, ophthalmology
 

"Health economic evaluations of innovations in anterior segment eye surgery"

This thesis investigated the cost-effectiveness of several innovations in cataract surgery and corneal transplantation surgery. One study found that performing cataract surgery on both eyes in a single operating session was cost-effective. Another study found that implantation of toric implant lenses during cataract surgery reduced the need for distance spectacles after surgery, but was not cost-effective. Finally, using a combination of two anti-inflammatory eye drops reduced the incidence of retinal edema after surgery, and it was also cost-effective. Regarding corneal transplantation surgery, a novel technique using the thinnest possible corneal transplants (DMEK) resulted in better visual outcomes, but was not cost-effective compared to a thicker transplant (DSAEK).

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