Practice setting influences adoption of MIGS versus traditional surgeries

The type of glaucoma procedures performed by physicians in the United States is influenced by practice location and physician-related factors, according to a study that found that specifically, non-metropolitan providers perform more MIGS procedures, while metropolitan providers and those with more recent certifications are more likely to perform traditional glaucoma surgeries.

The cross-sectional analysis used data from the 2019 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Payment and the American Board of Ophthalmology databases.

Among the 2,625 providers included, those in non-metropolitan areas performed slightly more MIGS procedures on average than their metropolitan counterparts (median 31 vs 29, P = 0.015). Conversely, physicians in metropolitan areas conducted a higher proportion of traditional glaucoma surgeries (0.24 vs 0.08, P < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between more recent certification years and the proportion of traditional surgeries performed (P < 0.001).

Multivariable regression analysis identified certification year, urbanization level, and practice income as significant predictors of procedural distribution (P < 0.02).

Reference
Xiao G, Boland MV. Comparing Traditional and Newer Glaucoma Procedures by Physician Experience and Practice Location in the United States. J Glaucoma. 2024;doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000002516. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39441006.