Ophthalmology
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To determine the incidence of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1980 to 2002, determine the associated risk factors for CSC based on previously reported risk factors, investigate for any new risk factors not previously reported, and determine a population-based recurrence rate. ⋯ The incidence of CSC has not previously been reported in a population-based study. In accordance with previous studies, we found that CSC occurs more frequently in men than in women.
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To report the prevalence of retinal detachment (RD) and results of prophylaxis against detachment from a giant retinal tear in a large cohort of patients with type 1 Stickler syndrome. ⋯ Prophylactic cryotherapy substantially reduces the risk of RD in type 1 Stickler syndrome and, in this series, eliminated the risk of bilateral detachments.
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness and severe visual impairment among the elderly in the United States. This study aims to assess eye-related Medicare costs from 1995 to 1999 in patients with both nonneovascular and neovascular AMD as compared with controls, and to delineate whether variations exist across demographic and clinical subgroups in eye-related Medicare costs over 5 years. ⋯ Age-related macular degeneration represented a significant economic burden to the U.S. health care system for a single ophthalmic disease entity based on Medicare reimbursed eye-related costs before the availability of photodynamic therapy and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Given that direct eye-related costs associated with the treatment of neovascular AMD are estimated at $569 million annually before the availability of therapy for subfoveal lesions, effective therapeutic measures may be associated with substantial cost offsets.
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To determine the prevalence and risk factors for escalation of glaucoma therapy after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and its impact on graft survival and visual outcome. ⋯ Escalation of glaucoma therapy is a serious sequela of PK that is significantly associated with an increased risk of graft failure and poor visual outcome.