[Age, sex and diagnostic distribution of patients in ophthalmological medical practice in Germany].

OBJECTIVE: The ophthalmological patient care in Germany has changed over the past decades due to demographic and diagnostic facility change and the shift from inpatient to outpatient care.

METHOD: In the fourth quarter of 2010 a survey was conducted including almost 10 % of the patients of 96 ophthalmologists. The results for age, sex, main and secondary diagnosis and the main reason for the examination were examined and compared with those of surveys from 1966 and 1997.

RESULTS: 15125 patients (median per doctor: 149, range: 45-376) were included in the survey. 58 % were women. The proportion of women was elevated in all decades compared to men, apart from the first age decade. The proportion of older patients (70 +) increased (1997: 25.3 %; 2010: 40.8 %) although the age distribution in Germany appears to be rather constant (1997: 11.9 %; 2010: 15.3 %). The proportion of examinations due to glaucoma, diabetes and vitreoretinal diseases increased by almost 60 % compared to 1997.

CONCLUSION: Compared to the results of 1997, we observed a marked change from simple to differentiated cases in ophthalmological medical practice in Germany. The early diagnosis and therapy have to be guaranteed in the future taking into account the limited resources.