Journal of Ocular Biology
Research Article
Expert Perspectives and Preferences in the Diagnosis and Management of Dry Eye Disease and Ocular Lubricant use: A Questionnaire-Based Survey Among Indian Ophthalmologists
Manjula S1* and Krishna Kumar M2
1Department of Medical Services, Micro Labs Limited, Bangalore,
Karnataka, India
2Department of Medical Services, Micro Labs Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
2Department of Medical Services, Micro Labs Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
*Address for Correspondence:Dr Manjula S, Department of Medical Services, Micro Labs Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Email Id: drmanjulas@gmail.com
Submission: 07 July, 2026
Accepted: 19 August, 2026
Published: 22 August, 2026
Copyright: © 2026 Manjula S, et al. This is an open access article
distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords:DED; CMC 1.0% Eye Drops; Artificial Tears;
Ophthalmologists; Ocular Surface Disorders; Clinical Practice.
Abstract
Objective: To assess the perspectives and preferences of Indian
ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease
(DED), including diagnostic approaches, ocular lubricant preferences,
safety monitoring, and the perceived clinical effectiveness of
carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) 1.0% eye drops.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among ophthalmologists across India using a structured questionnaire to assess routine clinical practices in the diagnosis and management of DED. Responses related to diagnostic approaches, ocular lubricant preferences, safety monitoring, adverse effects, and clinical outcomes were analyzed descriptively and presented as frequencies and percentages using Microsoft Excel.
Results: A total of 49 ophthalmologists participated in the survey. Nearly 65% of respondents reported that DED was most commonly diagnosed among individuals aged 30-45 years in routine clinical practice. Among the participating ophthalmologists, 63.27% reported mixed dry eye as the DED subtype they most frequently encountered in routine clinical practice, while 73% observed that DED was more common among patients belonging to the upper-middle socioeconomic group. More than half of the respondents (55.10%) preferred CMC 1.0% eye drops as the lubricant of choice for patients with allergic conjunctivitis, and 65% preferred the same formulation for the management of acute infectious conjunctivitis. A substantial proportion of ophthalmologists (81.63%) reported prescribing CMC 1.0% eye drops following superficial corneal foreign body removal. Approximately 67% of respondents regularly monitored patients for treatment-related adverse effects and medication-related complications, while 71% reported moderate improvement in clinical outcomes with CMC 1.0% eye drops.
Conclusion: The survey demonstrates that mixed dry eye is the most commonly encountered subtype of DED in routine clinical practice, with CMC 1.0% eye drops being the preferred ocular lubricant for several ocular surface conditions. Regular safety monitoring and favorable clinician-reported outcomes support its continued use as an effective and well-accepted therapeutic option in routine ophthalmic practice.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among ophthalmologists across India using a structured questionnaire to assess routine clinical practices in the diagnosis and management of DED. Responses related to diagnostic approaches, ocular lubricant preferences, safety monitoring, adverse effects, and clinical outcomes were analyzed descriptively and presented as frequencies and percentages using Microsoft Excel.
Results: A total of 49 ophthalmologists participated in the survey. Nearly 65% of respondents reported that DED was most commonly diagnosed among individuals aged 30-45 years in routine clinical practice. Among the participating ophthalmologists, 63.27% reported mixed dry eye as the DED subtype they most frequently encountered in routine clinical practice, while 73% observed that DED was more common among patients belonging to the upper-middle socioeconomic group. More than half of the respondents (55.10%) preferred CMC 1.0% eye drops as the lubricant of choice for patients with allergic conjunctivitis, and 65% preferred the same formulation for the management of acute infectious conjunctivitis. A substantial proportion of ophthalmologists (81.63%) reported prescribing CMC 1.0% eye drops following superficial corneal foreign body removal. Approximately 67% of respondents regularly monitored patients for treatment-related adverse effects and medication-related complications, while 71% reported moderate improvement in clinical outcomes with CMC 1.0% eye drops.
Conclusion: The survey demonstrates that mixed dry eye is the most commonly encountered subtype of DED in routine clinical practice, with CMC 1.0% eye drops being the preferred ocular lubricant for several ocular surface conditions. Regular safety monitoring and favorable clinician-reported outcomes support its continued use as an effective and well-accepted therapeutic option in routine ophthalmic practice.