AIM: To investigate the difference in hospitalization cost and operation results between the clinical path and non-clinical path of the age related cataract patient and carry out cost-result analysis.

METHODS:A total of 649 patients who were diagnosed initially as senile cataract or age-related cataract and received operations of parallel phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were selected in Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital within time period between Sep. 1^st, 2014 and Sep. 1^st, 2015. Among them, 108 patients were in the group of clinical path, and the rest 541 patients were in non-clinical group. This paper utilized the sum of hospitalization expenses and other costs to measure the total costs and used the amount of change in visual acuity to measure results and carried out the cost-result analysis.

RESULTS: The cost of clinical pathway group in bed charges, checkups, care, inspection fees, laboratory fees and the total costs of hospitalization required were significantly less than the non-path group. The charge for loss of working time of the pathway group was significantly less than the non-clinical pathway group. The difference of the amount of change in visual acuity between the clinical pathway group and non-path group was not statistically significant(P>0.05). The results of the clinical pathway group-effectiveness rate was lower than the non-clinical pathway group, which meant the statement of program in clinical pathway group was better.

CONCLUSION: The clinical pathways optimum scheme is better, which can reduce the medical costs without affecting the efficacy of postoperative cataract surgery. The clinical path group can reduce relevant costs through controlling the days of hospitalization. The clinical path group can reduce relevant costs through standardizing diagnosis and treatment behavior.