France: refractive surgery in strong decline

The January number of the monthly, BienVu, published new data on refractive surgery in France based on estimates supplied by professionals in the sector. In 2003 the number of operations dropped by around 30% compared to the two previous years.

This decline, said BienVu, is due to various factors:
- the effect of the campaigns against refractive surgery in Spain, the United States and Italy was also felt on the French market, especially through the Internet;
- speculation by the media on problems deriving from some operations, but these are, stated BienVu, in proportion to the development of this technique;
- the complexity of some operations, which discourages ophthalmologists, even though this type of surgery has become technologically easy and safe.

In Spain, BienVu continued, the market stagnates at 200 thousand operations since 2001.
More data published by the French monthly: the cost of the operation is dropping (prices start at 750 euros per eye) and some clinics are on the verge of closing. Lastly, referring to the same sources, BienVu wrote that the refractive surgery market in Italy is 'free falling'.