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. 2019 Feb 1:13:225-232.
doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S188314. eCollection 2019.

Dry eye disease ranking among common reasons for seeking eye care in a large US claims database

John L Bradley  1   2 , Ipek Özer Stillman  3 , Irina Pivneva  4 , Annie Guerin  4 , Amber M Evans  5 , Reza Dana  6
Affiliations

Dry eye disease ranking among common reasons for seeking eye care in a large US claims database

John L Bradley et al. Clin Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Objectives: Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex multifactorial condition of the ocular surface characterized by symptoms of ocular discomfort, irritation, and visual disturbance. Data previously reported from this study showed an increase in prevalence and incidence of DED with age and over time. The objective of this study was to compare the ranking of DED prevalence among other ocular conditions that led patients to seek eye care.

Methods: In this population-based study using the US Department of Defense Military Health System claims database of >9.7 million beneficiaries, indicators of DED and other ocular conditions were analyzed over time. The overall prevalence (2003-2015) and annual incidence (2008-2012) of DED and other ocular conditions were estimated using an algorithm based on two independent indicators derived from selected diagnostic and procedure codes and prescriptions for cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion for DED and diagnostic codes for the indicators of other common ocular conditions.

Results: In 2003-2015, the most common ocular conditions were disorders of refraction and accommodation (25.84%), cataracts (17.14%), glaucoma (7.27%), disorders of the conjunctiva (6.76%), other retinal disorders (5.94%), and DED (5.28%). DED was the fifth most prevalent ocular condition in women (7.78%) and ninth most prevalent in men (2.96%). In 2012, DED had the third highest annual incidence (0.87%), behind disorders of refraction/accommodation (1.87%) and cataracts (1.50%).

Conclusion: This study provided further epidemiologic evidence for DED as a commonly occurring condition that drives patients to seek treatment.

Keywords: DED; epidemiology; incidence; prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure IÖS is an employee of and owns stock/stock options in Takeda. IP and AG are employees of Analysis Group, Inc., which has received consultancy fees from Shire, now a part of Takeda. AME is an employee of Health ResearchTx LLC, which has received consultancy fees from Shire, now a part of Takeda. RD is a consultant for Aldeyra Therapeutics, Dompé, Kala Pharmaceuticals, and Takeda, and reports receiving grant support from Allergan and the National Eye Institute. JLB reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of the most common ocular conditions by age, 2003–2015. Notes: n=9,732,272 for dry eye disease; n=9,733,466 for all other ocular conditions. The difference in patient population size is due to the timing of the second data analysis (~8 months later).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of the most common ocular conditions by sex, 2003–2015. Notes: n=9,732,272 for dry eye disease; n=9,733,466 for all other ocular conditions. The difference in patient population size is due to the timing of the second data analysis(~8 months later).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Annual incidence of the most common ocular conditions.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Annual incidence of dry eye disease by sex and age, 2008–2012.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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