To evaluate the factors affecting compliance with the use of 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion in patients with dry eye syndrome.

A total of 148 patients using 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion for dry eye were divided into two groups (compliant vs. non-compliant). The compliant group included the patients who used 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion more than 50% of frequency as they had been prescribed. We analyzed factors affecting compliance, including age, gender, severity of symptoms, side effects, use of topical steroid, socioeconomic status, associated systemic disease, number of eyedrops, visit interval, and detailed instruction about 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion.

The compliant group included 124 patients (83.8%), and the non-compliant group included 24 patients (16.2%). Multivariate analysis showed that the factors associated with low compliance were severe symptoms, longer visit interval, side effects, lower socioeconomic status, and poor detailed instruction ( P <0.05). In contrast, gender, associated systemic disease, and number of eyedrops did not affect the compliance for use of 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion.

Special attention should be given to patients with the above risk factors to improve compliance with the use of 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion.