Rebamipide ophthalmic suspension may treat dry eye after refractive surgery

Rebamipide ophthalmic suspension may be an effective treatment to improve ocular surface parameters and optical quality for dry eye patients undergoing corneal refractive surgery, according to a study.

The prospective study evaluated 30 consecutive corneal refractive surgery patients with dry eye who were randomly selected to be treated with topical rebamipide ophthalmic suspension or artificial tears in each eye four times daily for 4 weeks.

In the rebamipide group, tear volume improved significantly from 11.4 mm ± 9.0 mm to 14.9 mm ± 7.4 mm; tear film break-up time improved significantly from 2.2 seconds ± 0.7 seconds to 4.5 seconds ± 1.7 seconds; and fluorescein staining scores decreased significantly from 4.3 ± 1.3 to 1.9 ± 1.0. There were no significant changes in the control group.

Also in the rebamipide group, there were significant improvements in subjective symptoms such as blurred vision and photophobia, and there were no significant changes in the control group.

In the objective scattering index (OSI) for the rebamipide group, OSI at 5 to 10 seconds after blinking significantly improved, while mean OSI, the OSI change rate and the mean stability index all significantly improved from 2.73 ± 1.52, 74.7% ± 69.5% and 0.10 ± 0.12, respectively, to 2.19 ± 1.19, 28.6% ± 48.7% and 0.04 ± 0.08, respectively.

“In our experience, this treatment can contribute to the improvement of visual performance because of the stabilization of the tear film, as well as subsequent patient satisfaction, even in eyes undergoing corneal refractive surgery,” the study authors said. – by Kristie L. Kahl

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Igarashi A, et al. Cornea. 2015 doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000000456.