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Unnecessary eye operations cost government millions
Belgium
11:55 10/07/2013
Ophthalmologists are increasingly opting for expensive operations to treat relatively simple eye ailments, providing additional income to physicians.
This evolution is accompanied by a large increase in costs (84 percent) for the Belgian government, or up to €55million, according to De Tijd. One example is the decreasing number of prescriptions handed out for reading glasses, previously thought to be the ideal solution for hyperopia. Instead, an increasing number of ophthalmologists recommend eye laser surgery to treat farsightedness.