[Preference and trends of treatment for diabetic retinopathy in Korea and Japan].

The difference in preferences and trends of treatment in each country are important to plan an international interventional clinical study in eastern Asia. Accordingly, we compared the preferences and trends in treatment of diabetic retinopathy in Korea and Japan. We obtained answers to questionnaires (49 questions) from 91 ophthalmologists of the Korean Retina Society and 120 ophthalmologists of the Japanese Society of Ophthalmic Diabetology in June/July, 2012. Some of the questions were modified from The Preferences and Trends (PAT) survey of American Society of Retina Specialists. The first choice for a patient with vision of 20/25, clinically significant diabetic macular edema and clear evidence of intraretinal fluid on spectral domain OCT were intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent (31%) in Korea and sub-Tenon steroid (22%) in Japan. The management for a patient with refractory neovascular glaucoma who has closed angle and persistent intraocular pressure elevation (>50 mmHg) were glaucoma drainage implant surgery (74%) in Korea and trabeculectomy (57%) in Japan. There were differences in preferences and trends of treatment for diabetic retinopathy between Korea and Japan. The differences need to be considered when planning international clinical studies.