Drug utilization study of postoperative cases of cataract in ophthalmology department at tertiary care hospital

Background: There are many studies carried out in India on outpatient department of ophthalmology. Very few studies are available on postoperative care. Hence present study was undertaken for analysing and study the prescription patterns and review the role of various drugs prescribed to postoperative cataract patients in order to improve patient’s compliance.
Aims and objectives: To study prescription pattern of drugs in postoperative cataract patients using WHO core prescribing indicators.
Materials and methods: This is a prospective, observational study was carried out in department of pharmacology in association with ophthalmology at tertiary care hospital G.M.C.H. Aurangabad after approval from Institutional Ethics Committee. Data obtained from case records forms, includes patients’ demographic details and drugs prescribed.
Results: Total of 150 prescriptions analyzed over a period of 18 months from Jan-2020 to June 2021. The majority of cataract patients belong to the age group of 40- 65 years. Average no. of drugs prescribed were 3.8. Usual prescription was one antibiotics either alone or in combination with steroids, one proton pump inhibitors, one analgesic agent. Some of them are having Mydriatic agent and Lubricating agent too. Eye drop Gatifloxacin + Prednisolone FDC is given to all patients. Percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 91.71%.
Conclusions: This study is a step forward in the broader assessment of safety and efficacy of prescription of drugs among postoperative cataract patients at a tertiary care hospital.