Ocular lubricants: analysis of utilisation
Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)
June 2014
Full report on Ocular lubricants (PDF 529KB)
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Abstract
Purpose
To review utilisation of ocular lubricants.
Data Source / methodology
Data for all ocular lubricants listed on the PBS were extracted from the DUSC database for the 10 years from 2003 to 2013.
Key Findings
- The total number of prescriptions for ocular lubricants has been fairly steady over the last ten years from 2003, increasing gradually to a peak of 2.53 million in 2009, and then slowly decreasing to 2.46 million in 2012.
- Expenditure across the whole group of ocular lubricants has been fairly stable over the last ten years, gradually rising from a low of $19.7 million in 2006. Expenditure in 2012 was $26.2 million.
- Almost all prescriptions for ocular lubricants are over the patient co-payment (97%).
- Concessional prescriptions compile the bulk of prescriptions for ocular lubricants, with 85% of prescriptions in 2012.
- Multi-dose products account for the majority of PBS prescriptions for ocular lubricants supplied. In 2013 (until end September), 85% of prescriptions were for multi-dose products.
- Prescribing of single dose unit products is gradually increasing. Single dose unit products comprised 1.3% of prescriptions supplied in 1994, 6.7% in 2003, 14% in 2012 and 15% in 2013 (to end September). This is likely to explain the small gradual increase in expenditure on ocular lubricants despite stable prescription numbers.
- The most common prescribers of ocular lubricants are GPs, followed by ophthalmologists. In 2013 (to end September), approximately 72% of prescriptions supplied were prescribed by GPs and 19% by ophthalmologists. Optometrists accounted for approximately 1% of prescriptions supplied.