Results of the 2015 Questionnaire Survey of the Korean Retina Society: Current Trends in the Treatment of Vitreoretinal Diseases

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report the results of the 2015 questionnaire survey of current trends and practice patterns in the treatment of vitreoretinal diseases, which was conducted by the Korean Retina Society (KRS). METHODS: In October 2015, members of the KRS participated in a survey of current trends and practice patterns in the treatment of vitreoretinal diseases. This survey was comprised of 68 multiple choice and dichotomy questions. RESULTS: One hundred eleven (41%) members participated in this survey. Most respondents (42%) had begun their vitreoretinal subspecialty ≤7 years previously, 32% had practiced for 8-15 years, and 26% for 16 years or more. The preferred primary treatment for newly diagnosed wet-type age-related macular degeneration was ranibizumab or aflibercept, and most clinicians (68%) favored a pro re nata regimen. Seventy percent of respondents treated injection-related endophthalmitis using a combination of immediate vitrectomy and intravitreal antibiotic injection. Bevacizumab was the most commonly (78-87%) preferred first-line therapy for macular edema (ME) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion or branch retinal vein occlusion. When ME did not respond to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment, most respondents (91%) switched patients to dexamethasone implant or triamcinolone acetonide. Eighty-four percent of the respondents performed scleral buckling during retinal detachment surgery in fewer than 40% of cases. Also, most respondents (96%) prescribed an antibiotic eye drop after, or before and after intravitreal drug injection. CONCLUSIONS: This survey reflected the recent trends and practice patterns in the treatment of vitreoretinal diseases in Korea.