SOCIOECONOMIC BURDEN OF DRY EYE DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES: REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE FROM THE ADELPHI DED DISEASE SPECIFIC PROGRAMME

Author(s)

Jodi Luchs, MD, FACS1, Emily Coak, BSc2, Jessica Robinson, MSc2, Mayesha Chowdhury, MSc2, Desiree Owen, OD3, Eric Hillson, PhD3;
1Florida Vision Institute, West Palm Beach, FL, USA, 2Adelphi Real World, Bollington, United Kingdom, 3AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA
OBJECTIVES: Evaluate socioeconomic burden of dry eye disease (DED) in the U.S. using data.
METHODS: Data were sourced from Adelphi DED Disease Specific ProgrammeTM, a U.S. cross-sectional survey of eyecare practitioners (ECPs) and DED patients in 2021-2022. ECPs reported EMR data for DED patients (n=723), demographics, symptoms, and treatment history. 250 patients completed a survey: Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), symptom burden, driving impact, and out-of-pocket spending for Rx and OTC DED treatments.
RESULTS: Among 723 DED patients (mean age 56.3 years; 72.6% female) half reported as employed full-time, with patients reporting DED negatively impacted their ability to work. Mean overall work impairment was 27.9%, increasing from 24.0% in subclinical or mild to 34.6% in moderate or severe disease. Presenteeism accounted for productivity loss (27.1%); absenteeism remained low (0.8%). Mean activity impairment was 26.0%, rising from 22.6% in subclinical or mild to 31.9% in moderate or severe DED. Multifactorial DED showed highest work impairment (33.5%). Local inflammatory symptoms and vision impairment showed greater overall work impairment (p=0.0094; p=0.0014) and activity impairment (p=0.0067; p=0.0059). Mucus and contact lens discomfort were drivers of activity impairment (p=0.0032; p=0.0119). Driving was impacted, with 25.0% of moderate or severe patients reporting moderate to extreme impact during the day and 43.1% at night. Among Rx-only patients, 50.0% reported improvement over year; among OTC-only patients, 27.9% reported improvement. ECPs reported inflammatory symptoms in 22.6% of Rx-only patients and 50.6% of OTC-only patients. Monthly out-of-pocket costs were $44.2 for Rx and $18.6 for OTC treatments; OTC costs were higher among patients with inflammatory symptoms (p=0.0485) and foreign body sensation (p<0.0001). Approximately 19.1% of patients report being denied insurance for prescriptions.
CONCLUSIONS: DED imposes substantial socioeconomic burden, with symptom-driven presenteeism as a key contributor. Prescription treatment is associated with improved inflammatory symptom control and disease manifestations vs. over-the-counter therapy alone.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6

Code

EE500

Topic

Economic Evaluation

Topic Subcategory

Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies

Disease

SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)

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