AIM: To calculate the direct cost of pediatric cataract surgery, from the provider's perspective.pediatric ophthalmology department of a comprehensive community eye care center in western India. Fixed costs included those of the building, interior decoration, outpatient department's equipment, operation theater equipment, personnel, administration and hospital maintenance. The consumable costs included materials used during surgery. Only direct costs were considered. Outpatient department consultation, Rs.606 ($15.53) for operation theater equipment use, and Rs. 2 427($62.23) for personnel. The consumable costs ranged from Rs.1 452 ($37.23) to 15 267 ($391.46), depending on the protocol used. The net average cost of pediatric cataract surgery ranged from Rs. 4 722 ($122) to Rs. 18 537 ($475) per eye. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery is cost intensive for children with cataract. Pediatric ophthalmologists should decide about most cost effective standards of care to rationalize consumable cost.

No abstract available.
Child ; Cornea/*abnormalities ; Cysts/*diagnosis ; Eye Abnormalities/*diagnosis ; Eye Diseases/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Visual Acuity/physiology ; Vitreous Body/*pathology