title: Current practice pattern for dry eye patients in South Korea: a multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Doh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Euisang
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chulyoung
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeongbok
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Myung
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011364:Professional Practice; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops; D009824:Ointments; D016572:Cyclosporine
keywords: Anti-inflammatory agents; Cyclosporine A; Dry eye syndrome; Practice pattern