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Diquafosol for contact lens-related dry eye a ‘promising option’ researchers say
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Soft contact lens wearers with dryness experienced improved biomarkers of membrane-associated mucins, tear film break-up time, and staining of the cornea and conjunctiva after topical application of diquafosol solution, according to a study in Optometry and Vision Science.
Researchers treated 12 soft contact lens wearers experiencing dryness symptoms with a 3% diquafosol tetrasodium solution for 4 weeks.
Clinical testing included the tear film break-up time (TFBUT), corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining scores and Schirmer’s values.
After 4 weeks of treatment, TFBUT, keratoconjunctival staining scores and corneal staining scores showed significant improvements, while Schirmer’s values remained stable, according to the researchers.
After treatment, the Dry Eye-Related Quality of Life Score (DEQS) was significantly lower than before the treatment.
Researchers used the fluorescence intensity of wheat germ agglutinin conjugate of fluorescein (F-WGA) fluorescence intensity of the central cornea as an index of the membrane-associated mucins and found it significantly increased after treatment.
No significant changes were found in the total protein concentration and in the concentrations of the four major tear proteins (slgA, lactoferrin, lipocalin-1 and lysozyme) after 4 weeks of diquafosol treatment.
“The most important finding in the current study was that the F-WGA fluorescence intensity in soft contact lens wearers was significantly increased by diquafosol treatment,” researchers wrote. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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