title: Preliminary effects of oral uridine on the ocular surface in dry eye patients.
abstract: We designed a randomized, double blinded, 3-months controlled prospective clinical study to investigate effects of oral uridine on the ocular surface in dry eye patients. Twenty-seven patients who diagnosed as dry eye with lower than 5 mm of wetting in the Schirmer strip, with corneal epithelial erosion and who completely followed-up till 3 months were enrolled. Corneal-conjunctival fluorescein staining, non-anesthetic Schirmer test, impression cytology, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) were evaluated in the experimental and placebo groups at the baseline, 1 and 3 months after start of medication in a double blinded manner. Fluorescein stain score of the cornea was markedly decreased in oral uridine group compared to the placebo group at 3 months after medication (P=0.032, Mann-Whitney U test). The Schirmer wetting score for the oral uridine group was significantly increased (P=0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test) at 3 months and its difference between two groups was statistically significant (P=0.030, Mann-Whitney U test). OSDI scores were significantly decreased at 1 and 3 months in treatment group. Oral uridine is effective in treatment of dry eyes.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ki Cheol
authors: KC
authors: Chang
authors: Joo Youn
authors: JY
authors: Oh
authors: Youn Seok
authors: YS
authors: In
authors: Mee Kum
authors: MK
authors: Kim
authors: Ki Cheul
authors: KC
authors: Shin
authors: Won Ryang
authors: WR
authors: Wee
authors: Jin Hak
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Myung Gyu
authors: MG
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014529:Uridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014529:Uridine