Resource utilisation and cost of amblyopia treatment

The cost-effectiveness of screening for amblyopia is a controversial issue of international debate. The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost of amblyopia treatment to be used as a component for modelling the cost-effectiveness of prevention programmes. Cost was calculated from the perspective of the German social health insurance in the year 2002. A standardised detailed survey was conducted in writing among 13 experienced experts in amblyopia treatment from various offices and strabismological units in Germany. Average volumes of treatment items were estimated for a maximum treatment period of nine years. Cost was calculated using administrative prices (based on the social health insurance's uniform fee schedule for physician services and reference prices for therapeutic aids) and market prices. The questionnaires were fully completed by 12 of the 13 experts. The mean total cost of treatment was estimated at 2.472 Euro (95 %-CI: 1.171 - 3.774) for strabismic amblyopia and 2.051 Euro (95 %-CI: 426 - 3.675) for amblyopia of refractive origin. About 70 % of the total cost was caused by the therapeutic aids (e. g. glasses, patches). The price of the patches had a marked impact on the total treatment cost. The results may be used for modelling the cost-effectiveness of screening programmes for the prevention of amblyopia.