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A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
P R E M I U M C A T A R A C T S U R G E R Y
Post-op drops for antibiotic and anti-inflammatory coverage have tradition-
ally been a problem for many cataract patients; even the patients who
intend to comply with their instructions sometimes cannot, because of
tremor.
The newest premium cataract surgery service aims to change all that.
Trimox, from Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, is a steroid-antibiotic combo that
the surgeon injects into the anterior chamber just before closing. The injec-
tion obviates the need for drops.
Many surgical facility managers are intrigued. "Patients would love this
option," says a Montana ASC administrator. "It would make a huge compli-
ance difference," says the nurse manager of a Maryland ASC. "Many of our
patients may prefer the opportunity to not have to use the post-operative
drops for weeks," says the nursing director of a Connecticut surgery center.
As with other premium cataract surgery services, the big question is cost.
Trimox costs from $20 to $25, and so far there's no CPT code for billing for
this product. Although the cost is relatively minor, "my ASC doesn't want to
incur any additional costs that will be under the global charge, as an inject-
ed medication would be," says Sandy Berreth, RN, MS, CASC, administrator
of the Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center in Baxter, Minn.
Our respondents say patients might be persuaded to pay extra for the
product, though, if the injection is priced similarly to Medicare patients' cur-
rent out-of-pocket expenditures for drops, and if it's sold properly to the
patients.
About 40% of the survey respondents who have an opinion think dropless
cataract surgery will be "very" or "somewhat" successful. Says an Oregon
hospital surgery manager: "Patients would really like not having to use
drops after cataract surgery."
— Outpatient Surgery Editors
INJECTION INSTEAD OF DROPS
"Dropless" Cataract Surgery — Will it Work?
