Real-world data show patients on perfluorohexyloctane twice as likely to refill prescriptions

Early users of perfluorohexyloctane (PFHO) for dry eye disease were significantly more likely to refill their prescriptions within 90 days compared to those using cyclosporine (CsA), suggesting higher patient satisfaction and treatment adherence with PFHO, according to a study.

In the real-world analysis of pharmacy and medical claims data, researchers identified over 7,000 PFHO users and more than 75,000 CsA users. Patients on PFHO were slightly younger (mean age 60.6 vs 66.6 years) and more likely to have used other DED therapies in the year before starting treatment. Despite a similar proportion of patients having a formal DED diagnosis (38.5% PFHO vs 33.3% CsA), nearly half of PFHO users had previously tried a different DED medication, compared to just 8.1% of CsA users.

At 90 days, 72% of patients on PFHO had refilled their prescription, nearly double the 37.4% refill rate seen in the CsA group. After adjusting for baseline differences, PFHO users were 72% more likely to refill, indicating greater adherence and potentially higher satisfaction with this first-in-class DED therapy.

Researchers suggest that the high prior treatment burden among PFHO users may reflect more severe or persistent DED symptoms and that the strong refill rate points to a positive early reception for PFHO among these patients.

Reference
Shen Lee B, Pizzicato L, Langford E, et al. Early Adoption and Utilization of Perfluorohexyloctane for Dry Eye Disease in the United States. Clin Ophthalmol. 2025;19:2529-2540. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S529837. PMID: 40766834; PMCID: PMC12323788.