A study has highlighted the significant cost savings that could be achieved in Britain’s NHS cataract services by shifting from hydrophilic to hydrophobic intraocular lenses (IOLs).
The analysis reveals that increased use of hydrophobic IOLs could cut the incidence of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) – and reduce the need for costly YAG laser capsulotomies – resulting in savings of up to £13 million per year.
PCO remains one of the most common long-term complications following cataract surgery. The study, which used data from the National Ophthalmology Database (NOD), NHS Spend Comparison Service, and Payment by Results tariffs, compared the financial outcomes of hydrophilic versus hydrophobic IOLs over a nine-year period post-surgery.
The findings show that the cumulative cost per case, including the initial IOL and any subsequent YAG laser treatment, was significantly higher for hydrophilic lenses at £148.73, compared to £107.58 for hydrophobic IOLs.
Despite these findings, hydrophilic IOLs were still used in 52% of NHS cataract surgeries reported to the NOD in 2022, compared with 46% for hydrophobic IOLs.
According to the study’s modelling, if all hydrophilic IOLs used in that period had been replaced with hydrophobic alternatives, the NHS could have saved an estimated £13 million (range: £10.7–£15.6 million) by avoiding a substantial number of YAG laser procedures.
The authors concluded that while hydrophilic lenses remain widely used across NHS-funded cataract services in England, switching to hydrophobic IOLs presents a compelling opportunity to both improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
