A comparison of vitamin a and cyclosporine a 0.05% eye drops for treatment of dry eye syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) and cyclosporine A 0.05% eye drops in treating patients with dry eye disease.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel group study.


METHODS
A total of 150 patients with defined dry eye disease participated (50 in each treatment group). In 3 identical clinical trials, patients were treated twice daily with cyclosporine A 0.05%, or four times daily with retinyl palmitate 0.05%, or with neither cyclosporine or retinyl palmitate. Adjunctive treatment with preservative-free artificial tears was undertaken four times daily in all 3 groups. Corneal fluorescein staining results, Schirmer tear test (without anesthesia) results, tear film break-up time (BUT), dry eye symptom score, and impression cytologic analysis results were obtained before treatment and at the first, second, and third months after initiation of treatment.


RESULTS
Both vitamin A eye drops and topical cyclosporine A 0.05% treatments led to significant improvement in blurred vision, tear film BUT, Schirmer I score results, and impression cytologic findings in patients with dry eye syndrome (P < .05) compared to the control group treated with preservative-free artificial tears alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Both vitamin A eye drops and topical cyclosporine A 0.05% treatments are effective for the treatment of dry eye disorder.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Chul
EC
Kim
Jun-Sub
JS
Choi
Choun-Ki
CK
Joo
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004224:Diterpenes; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004224:Diterpenes; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate; D016572:Cyclosporine