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Lubricant eye drop shows significant improvement in dry eye symptoms
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SAN FRANCISCO — A new lubricant eye drop proved safe and effective in managing post-LASIK dry eye symptoms, according to a poster presented here.
The new treatment "may have some incremental benefits over standard tear management," Peter A. Simmons, PhD, and colleagues reported during Cornea Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
The double-masked trial compared Optive Sensitive (Allergan) with standard tear management, Refresh Plus (Allergan). The trial included 228 patients with no existing dry eye; 114 patients used Optive Sensitive and 114 patients used Refresh Plus for 90 days after undergoing LASIK.
Investigators used fluorescein staining and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores to evaluate dry eye signs and symptoms before LASIK and at 2, 14, 30, 60 and 90 days postop.
Both groups' OSDI scores peaked on postop day 2. Optive Sensitive patients had a mean score of 25.8 and Refresh Plus patients had a mean score of 20.8, a statistically significant difference (P = .033).
At 90 days postop, patients using OPTIVE Sensitive had a mean OSDI score of 8.3; patients using Refresh Plus had a mean OSDI score of 6.4.
Both groups' corneal staining scores peaked on day 14. The mean score among Optive Sensitive patients was 1.3; Refresh Plus patients had a mean score of 1.9, a statistically significant difference (P = .039).
Both groups had statistically significant reductions in artificial tear use between day 14 and day 90 (P < .001).
"Patients in both groups had similar improvement trends from baseline in [uncorrected visual acuity]," the authors said. "Acceptability ratings indicated that the majority of the patients in each group found use of the tears improved comfort and postoperative recovery throughout the trial."