Evaluation of topical cyclosporine for the treatment of dry eye disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of topical cyclosporine, 0.05% (Restasis; Allergan Inc, Irvine, California), for the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe dry eye disease unresponsive to artificial tears therapy.


METHODS
This was a prospective clinical study. One hundred fifty-eight consecutive patients with dry eye disease unresponsive to artificial tears therapy were divided into 3 groups of disease severity: mild, moderate, and severe. Patients were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index for symptomatic improvement, tear breakup time, fluorescein staining, lissamine green staining, and Schirmer testing. Patients were observed for 3 to 16 months. The main outcome measure was improvement in disease.


RESULTS
Forty-six of 62 patients with mild dry eye disease (74.1%), 50 of 69 with moderate disease (72.4%), and 18 of 27 with severe disease (66.7%) showed improvement, with 72.1% improving overall.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical cyclosporine shows beneficial effects in all categories of dry eye disease. Symptomatic improvement was greatest in the mild group and the best results in improvement of disease signs were in patients with severe dry eye disease.
Perry
Henry D
HD
Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Ryan Medical Arts Bldg, Ste 402, 2000 N Village Ave, Rockville Centre, New York, NY 11570, USA. hankcornea@aol.com
Solomon
Renée
R
Donnenfeld
Eric D
ED
Perry
Alicia R
AR
Wittpenn
John R
JR
Greenman
Herb E
HE
Savage
Howard E
HE
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008086:Lissamine Green Dyes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008086:Lissamine Green Dyes; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D016572:Cyclosporine; D019793:Fluorescein