Trends in Ophthalmic Surgery Among Older Patients in Japan (Fiscal Years 2018 to 2022): A National Claims Database Study on Surgical Shifts and the COVID-19 Pandemic's Impact

Ophthalmic surgeries generally increased among older adults in Japan from FY2018 to FY2022, with a transient decrease in FY2020 linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The significant rise in specific glaucoma procedures, particularly minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) combined with cataract surgery, signals an evolution in surgical practices. These trends have important implications for healthcare resource planning and surgeon training.