Analyzing Asian Trends in Ocular Cosmetic Surgery Through Internet Search Patterns.

[BACKGROUND] Ocular cosmetic plastic (OCP) is gaining popularity in Asia, leading people to increasingly turn to online searches for information rather than seeking direct medical consultations.

[OBJECTIVES] To analyze internet search behavior associated with OCP in the Asian population.

[METHODS] Using Google Ads Keyword Planner, we evaluated monthly search volumes for "ocular plastic" across ten Asian countries (January 2008 to December 2022). Sixteen relevant OCP-related keywords were identified and normalized per one million residents for cross-regional comparison. Analyses covered regional, economic, and seasonal variations.

[RESULTS] A total of 40,575 OCP-related keyword searches were recorded, averaging 222 monthly searches per million residents. East Asia had the highest activity (178.6±22.2 per million). Highly developed countries (Japan, South Korea) also showed significantly greater interest compared with developed (17.6±5.5) and developing countries (20.8±6.1; P<0.001). "Double eyelid surgery" dominated surgical searches, accounting for 42.6% of total queries, while "eye wrinkle" (10,882 per million) and "eye injection" (9,862 per million) led non-surgical terms. Seasonal variation was evident, with winter peaks (664±52.7 per million) exceeding spring (604±46.4).

[CONCLUSIONS] This study provides insights into Asian population preferences for OCP and reveals online search behavior patterns, emphasizing a prevalent inclination to seek information about eye surgeries, especially double eyelid and lower eyelid procedures, through online platforms, while also noting variations in search volume influenced by seasonal and regional factors.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV] This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors  www.springer.com/00266 .