Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the cost of conventional treatment of dry eye syndrome in Singapore.
Methods: :
Data on cost of dry eye medication prescribed by ophthalmologist in Singapore National Eye Centre in 2008 and 2009 were collected retroprospectively from pharmacy inventories. According to the type of therapy, data were sorted into following four groups: Group A: Treatment for meibomien gland disease, Group B: Preservative free lubricants, Group C: lubricants with preservatives and Group D: lubricant ointments and gels. Each recorded entry was considered as one patient episode. Comparisons of costs in each group between year 2008 and 2009 were carried out using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results: :
Mean number of patient episode per year was 64764±2939. Total annual cost of dry eye medication in year 2008 and 2009 were S$ 1583124.46 and S$155565.31 respectively. Cost of dry eye medication per patient episode in year 2008 and 2009 were S$ 23.68 and S$ 24.82 respectively. Unit cost per medication did not change over the recorded period. Total annual cost of group A, B, C & D in year 2008 were S$ 35301.92 ±2302.61, S$ 180753.30±5509.73, S$ 115973.82±6903.60 and S$ 68859.17±5610.66 respectively. Total annual cost of group A, B, C & D in year 2009 were S$ 36723.22± 820.92, S$ 185279.01±3601.58, S$ 107496.80±5145.47 and S$ 59392.43±3234.55 respectively. Total cost per patient episode in group A, B, C & D in year 2008 were S$ 43.37±0.80, S$ 92.10±1.31, S$188.33±12.31 and S$ 84.99±7.50 respectively. Total cost per patient episode in group A, B, C & D in year 2009 were S$ 44.54±1.00, S$ 95.54±5.11, S$ 212.08±6.67 and S$ 102.09±3.30 respectively. When compared to year 2008, there is a 4.77% increase in cost per patient episode in year 2009. However, both total annual cost and cost per patient episode in each group between 2 years were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: :
Dry eye is a chronic condition with high economic burden. Given the limitations that our study didn’t capture the cost of consultation, cost of cyclosporine eye drops, topical steroids, omega 3 supplements and surgical interventions and indirect costs such as transport and time spent for treatment, the true cost of dry eye treatment borne by the patient is likely to be much higher.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: health care delivery/economics/manpower