ISRS 2015 U.S. Trends Survey

The 2015 U.S. Trends in Refractive Surgery Survey was completed by the ISRS membership in October 2015 with a 9.8% response rate. This data collection allows ISRS members from the United States to have their voices heard on refractive surgery.

Download the 2015 U.S. Trends Survey Presentation (PDF)

Summary of Results

• VisX (54%) stable marketshare ahead of Wavelight (40%).
• Still 30-33% penetration of modern refractive surgery amongst refractive surgeons ... 3-4 X the general population. Family Index rates also continue to be high.
• 27% of respondents are OK with bilateral P-IOL and 10% with bilateral RLE at the same surgical setting (slight increase).
• Multifocal IOL (17%) over accommodative IOL (8%) as a preferred lens-based presbyopia option when used for CE.
• Femtosecond LASIK flaps dominate and are stable at 76%.
• Thinner flaps dominate: 100 micron or less flaps are favored by 54% of surgeons (down from 68% in ‘14).
• Preferred RSB thickness is stable: 39% think 250 microns is adequate, but 61% recommend 275 microns or more.
• New post-LASIK ectasia cases are on the decline.
• Pentacam (55%) and Z-H (50%) about equal and Orbscan II dropped off to 21%.
• LVC Volume down over 3 of the last 4 surveys in 2012 thru 2015.
• Ratio of Surface Ablation / Total LVC stable at 28% this year (22-29% over past five years).
• During cataract surgery 73% of surgeons will offer to correct astigmatism if it is 0.75 D or more; 95% if 1.25 D or more.
• AK (either manual or FS) is preferred by 86% over Torics for astigmatism 0.5-1.0 diopters and Toric IOLs are preferred by 73% for astigmatism > 1.12 D at the time of cataract surgery.
• CXL offered by 22% of ISRS members surveyed in the United States. (not FDA-approved).
• FemtoSecond Laser-assisted Refractive Cataract Surgery up from 19% to 29% over the last year.
• FS, Toric and PresbyIOL are not high volume refractive surgeries yet like LASIK in its heyday, but moving forward.