Classification criteria for the inclusion of ophthalmologists to an area of care
| Area of care* | This study’s classification criteria† | Criteria in literature |
|---|---|---|
| Neuro-ophthalmologist | ≥ 50 neuro-ophthalmology consultations | NA |
| Corneal surgeon | ≥ 10 corneal transplants (any combination of penetrating, lamellar limbal or stem cell) | Substantial volume: ≥ 50 corneal transplants (any combination of penetrating or lamellar limbal)12 |
| Glaucoma surgeon | ≥ 50 glaucoma filtering procedures (no combination procedure) | Substantial volume: ≥ 50 glaucoma filtering procedures (glaucoma filtering and combination cataract extraction/glaucoma filtering) and bleb repair procedures12 Higher volume: ≥ 100 glaucoma filtering procedures (glaucoma filtering and combination cataract extraction/glaucoma filtering)13 Lower volume: < 100 glaucoma filtering procedures (glaucoma filtering and combination cataract extraction/glaucoma filtering)13 |
| Retina medical ophthalmologist | ≥ 300 intravitreal injections AND ≥ 100 laser photocoagulation procedures, excluding those who conducted any retina surgery | High or low volume not specified: ≥ 100 intravitreal injections AND ≥ 100 laser photocoagulation procedures14 |
| Retinal surgeon | ≥ 15 of any combination of vitrectomies or scleral buckle procedures | Substantial volume: ≥ 50 any combination of vitrectomy or scleral buckle procedures12 High or low volume not specified: ≥ 5 PRMP or segmentation including PPV14 |
| Oculoplastic surgeon | ≥ 20 of any combination of tumour or foreign body excisions, biopsies or lateral orbitotomies; orbital decompressions; dermis fat grafts; fornix reconstructions; free mucous membrane grafts; dacryocystectomies; lacerated canaliculus repairs; dacryocystorhinostomies; and lacrimal bypass procedures | NA |
| Pediatric ophthalmologist‡ | ≥ 50 pediatric strabismus surgeries OR ≥ 50% of all consults conducted on pediatric patients AND does not meet the criteria of any of the other areas of care | Substantial volume: ≥ 50 strabismus surgeries§12 High volume: ≥ 50 pediatric strabismus surgeries§15 High volume: ≥ 30 strabismus surgeries§16 |
| Low-vision rehabilitation ophthalmologist | ≥ 50 of any combination of initial or follow-up low-vision rehabilitation assessments AND does not meet the criteria of any of the other areas of care | High or low volume not specified: ≥ 1 of initial or follow-up low-vision rehabilitation assessments17 |
| Low-volume comprehensive cataract surgeon | ≥ 1 but < 200 cataract surgeries AND does not meet the criteria of any of the other areas of care | NA |
| Moderate-volume comprehensive cataract surgeon | 200–800 cataract surgeries AND does not meet the criteria of any of the other areas of care | NA |
| High-volume comprehensive cataract surgeon | > 800 cataract surgeries AND does not meet the criteria of any of the other areas of care | NA |
| General medical ophthalmologist | ≥ 100 of any combination of ophthalmic consultations or assessments AND does not perform ophthalmic surgeries AND does not meet the criteria of any of the other areas of care | NA |
Note: NA = not applicable, PPV = pars plana vitrectomy, PRMP = preretinal membrane peel.
↵* Neuro-ophthalmology involves both neurology and ophthalmology. Neuro-ophthalmologists manage and treat nervous system–related visual problems. Low-vision rehabilitation ophthalmologists help patients (e.g., through education and optical or nonoptical device training) optimize use of their remaining low vision.
↵† We considered all fee-for-service and shadow billing professional claims to capture ophthalmologists under different payment plans.
↵‡ Patients younger than 18 years.
↵§ These literature definitions characterized only strabismus surgeons, not pediatric ophthalmologists who could also provide only medical (nonsurgical) services.