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Loteprednol, cyclosporine provide rapid relief of dry eye disease
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NEW ORLEANS — Loteprednol etabonate and topical cyclosporine relieved dry eye disease more rapidly than cyclosporine and artificial tears, a group of surgeons reported at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here.
In a poster presentation, OSN Cornea/External Disease Section Member Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, FACS, and colleagues reported results of a prospective, multicenter, randomized, masked, controlled study designed to assess the effects of loteprednol on cyclosporine therapy.
The study involved 120 patients with dry eye disease. Patients received either Lotemax (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic solution 0.5%, Bausch & Lomb) or artificial tears for 2 weeks before starting Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05%, Allergan).
At 2 months follow-up, patients in the loteprednol group had improved corneal staining, conjunctival staining and Schirmer test results and had less stinging with cyclosporine induction than those in the artificial tears group. The difference was statistically significant (P < .05).
"Loteprednol with topical cyclosporine improves patient compliance, reduces stinging and provides more rapid relief of dry eye disease than topical cyclosporine alone," the authors said.