AB075. Population trends in adult strabismus surgery

Background: To review the trends in adult strabismus procedures in Ontario from 2000–2014.

Methods: A population based, retrospective data analysis was conducted. Ontario Health Insurance Plan billing claims for strabismus procedures were collected and subdivided by number of muscles repaired, the use of adjustable sutures and repeat procedures, adjusted by the total adult population. The number of Ophthalmologists performing adult strabismus surgery was also analyzed, subdivided by high volume and low volume surgeons.

Results: From 2000–2014, per 100,000 adult population, the number of total strabismus surgeries in Ontario increased 29.1%; single muscle surgery increased 25.0%, two muscle surgery increased 46.3%, and three or more muscle surgeries increased 8.3%. During the study period, strabismus procedures using adjustable sutures increased 26.1% and repeat procedures increased 65.1%. The number of surgeons performing adult strabismus surgery decreased 21.7% from 2000–2014. In 2014, 88.4% of surgeries were performed by 29.8% of all of surgeons who performed adult strabismus surgery.

Conclusions: From 2000–2014, more strabismus surgery was performed in adults by fewer surgeons from 2000–2014. The number of adult strabismus surgeries in Ontario increased since 2000, including procedures using adjustable sutures and repeat procedures. These changes may be due to increases in healthcare funding and an increased awareness of the functional and psychosocial benefits of strabismus surgery.

Keywords: Strabismus; adult; strabismus surgery; epidemiology; workforce