Zhi Chen1, Jun Jiang2, Jingjing Xu2, Xiao Yang3, Yin Yang4, Kai Wang5, Hongxin Song6, Bi Yang7, Pauline Cho8. 1. Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Fudan University Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Fudan University, Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China. Electronic address: peter459@aliyun.com. 2. The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. 3. State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangzhou, China. 4. Department of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Medical College, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People's Hospital, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China. 6. Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, National Engineering Research Center for Ophthalmology, Beijing, China. 7. Department of Optometry and Visual Science, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. 8. School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate antibiotic eye drops prescribing patterns of contact lens practitioners in Mainland China for orthokeratology (ortho-k) patients and to develop guidelines for their use. METHODS: A questionnaire on their antibiotic prescribing habits was administered to eye care practitioners (ECP) involved in ortho-k lens fitting nationwide via an official online account. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships between prescribing habits and demographics. RESULTS: A total of 555 ECP completed the survey, of whom 50.5 % were optometrists (non-medical degree). About 30 % of the respondents routinely prescribed antibiotic eye drops for prophylactic use before and/or after commencement of ortho-k treatment. Forty one percent of the respondents dispensed antibiotics to patients for emergency use without giving written instructions, 48.5 % used antibiotic eye drops to wet fluorescein strips during ortho-k lens fitting, and 44.9 % considered treating corneal infiltrate(s) with antibiotics to be appropriate. A set of guidelines, including when to use antibiotic eye drops during ortho-k lens treatment and their proper use, stratified by different corneal conditions, was developed. CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate use of antibiotic eye drops appeared to be common among ortho-k practitioners in Mainland China. Taking into account deficiencies and errors identified from the survey, a set of guidelines based on best practice was developed and can serve to provide advice for proper use of antibiotics in ortho-k practice.
PURPOSE: To investigate antibiotic eye drops prescribing patterns of contact lens practitioners in Mainland China for orthokeratology (ortho-k) patients and to develop guidelines for their use. METHODS: A questionnaire on their antibiotic prescribing habits was administered to eye care practitioners (ECP) involved in ortho-k lens fitting nationwide via an official online account. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships between prescribing habits and demographics. RESULTS: A total of 555 ECP completed the survey, of whom 50.5 % were optometrists (non-medical degree). About 30 % of the respondents routinely prescribed antibiotic eye drops for prophylactic use before and/or after commencement of ortho-k treatment. Forty one percent of the respondents dispensed antibiotics to patients for emergency use without giving written instructions, 48.5 % used antibiotic eye drops to wet fluorescein strips during ortho-k lens fitting, and 44.9 % considered treating corneal infiltrate(s) with antibiotics to be appropriate. A set of guidelines, including when to use antibiotic eye drops during ortho-k lens treatment and their proper use, stratified by different corneal conditions, was developed. CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate use of antibiotic eye drops appeared to be common among ortho-k practitioners in Mainland China. Taking into account deficiencies and errors identified from the survey, a set of guidelines based on best practice was developed and can serve to provide advice for proper use of antibiotics in ortho-k practice.