Current Practice Pattern for Dry Eye Patients in South Korea: A Multicenter Study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess current practice patterns for dry eye patients in South Korea and to evaluate the preference according to the ages and clinic types of physicians. Methods: Dry eye patients (n = 1,612) were enrolled in this multicenter cross-sectional, observational study. The severity level of dry eye patients was classified based on the Korean guidelines for dry eye treatment. The medical records of the enrolled dry eye patients were evaluated, and the practice styles and the preferences were analyzed according to the ages and clinic types of physicians. Results: Of all patients, dry eye level 1 was most common (47.5%), followed by level 2 (33.5%), level 3 (9.1%), and level 4 (1.1%). Topical anti-inflammatory agents were used in 70.7% of patients with dry eye level 2 and in 80.6% of patients at levels 3 and 4. Topical anti-inflammatory agents were also used in 48.7% of patients with dry eye level 1. Preservative-free artificial tears were preferred at all dry eye levels. The use of topical anti-inflammatory agents did not differ with investigator ages, but older physicians preferred preserved artificial tears more than younger ones. Physicians at referral hospitals also tended to use topical anti-inflammatory agents and preservative-free artificial tears earlier, beginning at dry eye level 1, than those who worked at private eye clinics. Conclusions: Topical anti-inflammatory agents were commonly prescribed for the treatment of dry eye patients in South Korea, even from dry eye level 1. Preservative-free artificial tears were preferred at all dry eye levels. Practice styles differed somewhat depending on the ages and clinic types of physicians.

Concordance Between Patient and Clinician Assessment of Dry Eye Severity and Treatment Response in Taiwan

“…Although this study did not differentiate between level 1 and 2 severity, the proportion of dry eye severity in this study was similar to that published by Song et al 21 In South Korea, where dry eye severity was based on a classification modified from the DEWS guideline, the prevalence of patients with dry eye at level 1 was 47.5%, 33.5% at 2 (ie, 81.0% if levels 1 and 2 were combined), 9.1% at level 3, and 1.1% at level 4. These numbers closely related to our findings of 88.2% at level 1 or 2, 9.0% at level 3, and 2.6% at level 4.…”

“…It is scored on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores representing greater disability. Based on the OSDI score, the ocular surface was defined as normal (0-12), mild (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22), moderate (23-32), or severe (33-100). 19 Clinicians were masked to patients' OSDI scores.…”

Patient and physician perspectives on the use of cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% for the management of chronic dry eye

“…There is some evidence to suggest that CsA is accepted and frequently prescribed by eye care providers for the treatment of DED. 50 The American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern 11 includes CsA in the discussion on dry eye management. Furthermore, a retrospective study of dry eye medication use and expenditures in the US showed an increase in dry eye medication prescriptions from 2001 to 2006 that was largely driven by CsA.…”

The Effect of TNF-α Blocker HL036337 and Its Best Concentration to Inhibit Dry Eye Inflammation

“…Dry eye (DE) syndrome is one of the most frequent diseases encountered by ophthalmologists, and has a prevalence of 30% to 50% in the entire population [ 1 2 3 ] and a significant impact on daily life [ 4 5 6 ]. The etiology of DE syndrome has not been clearly established despite significant research efforts; however, according to previous studies, DE is likely an immunological disorder [ 7 ].…”