US ophthalmology registry logs 10 million patient visits in first year

Since its debut at last year’s American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, the first national comprehensive ophthalmology patient database in the US has logged data from more than 10 million patient encounters involving nearly four million unique patients, said David W Parke II MD, CEO of the AAO. More than 5,000 ophthalmologists now contribute to the IRIS Registry, for Intelligent Research in Sight, a figure expected to double in the next few months.

Participation far exceeds the initial projections, Dr Parke told the 2014 Ocular Innovation Summit, a trade meeting held in conjunction with the AAO meeting. At last year’s launch, AAO anticipated 18 million patient visits by 2016. “We are now estimating 33 million at our current rate, perhaps as much as 130 million with the next round of enrolees.”

Early findings from the registry include:

• 2 per cent of patients without comorbidities require an additional procedure for complications within 30 days after cataract surgery, excluding YAG laser.

• 80per cent of patients without comorbidities achieve vision of 20/30 or better within 90 days after cataract surgery.

• 28per cent of patients seen by an ophthalmologist had at least one of the following: age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, primary open-angle glaucoma or cataract surgery. 16per cent of ophthalmology patients had at least two of these conditions.

• 11per cent of ophthalmology patients had primary open-angle glaucoma, 10per cent AMD, and 6per cent diabetic retinopathy.

IRIS is a centralized collection and reporting software tool that compiles and processes data drawn directly from electronic health records in participating ophthalmology practices. It enables ophthalmologists to statistically analyse their own care, compare it to that of their peers and pinpoint opportunities for improvement.

The database also allows ophthalmologists to manage their patients at a population level; study a specific group of patients based on conditions, risk factors, demographics or outcomes; identify trends and track interventions; and answer specific clinical questions. Registry-based trials may also greatly reduce the cost of developing new drugs and devices, and conducting post-market surveillance, Dr Parke said.