Preferred drug usage among patients attending ophthalmology outpatient department for the treatment of dry eye syndrome in a tertiary care teaching hospital at Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Background: Prescription auditing studies are a part of drug use studies and are beneficial in clinical practice for rational prescribing of drugs and helpful for minimizing the medication errors. These are an important tool to promote rational prescribing.

Aims and Objectives: To study the drug-prescribing pattern in patients with dry eye syndrome.

Materials and Methods: A drug use study was conducted in dry eye patients by the Department of Pharmacology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun, for 1 year. A total of 393 prescriptions were evaluated for prescribing pattern by using WHO drug use indicators.

Results: Of the 393 prescriptions analyzed, it was found that 852 drugs were prescribed: 484 (56.81%) were artificial tears, 160 (18.78%) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 152 (17.84%) steroids, and 56 (6.57%) belonged to “others” category. Carboxymethyl cellulose, hydoxypropyl cellulose, and polyethylene glycol were the most common artificial tears prescribed. Prescribed NSAIDs included ketorolac, bromofenac, and diclofenac whereas fluromethalone, loteprednol, and difluprednate were the most commonly prescribed steroids for the treatment of dry eye. It was found that 0.7% fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) were prescribed; 2.24 drugs were prescribed per prescription; and 56.10% drugs were prescribed from National Essential Medicine List.

Conclusion: Artificial tears were the most commonly prescribed drugs for dry eye. A therapeutic audit to provide regular feedback to researchers and prescribers may encourage rational prescribing in dry eye disease.