title: The effects of topical coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate after cataract surgery: a clinical and in vivo confocal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the postoperative effects of topical coenzyme Q(10) + vitamin E D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (CoQ(10)) after cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 consecutive patients were randomized to receive CoQ(10) or saline solution (SS) twice daily for 9 months after uneventful cataract surgery with a temporal port. Before surgery, on day 14 and at months 3, 6 and 9, they underwent non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) testing, Schirmer test, BUT, aesthesiometry as well as in vivo confocal microscopy of the subbasal nerve plexus of the cornea (SBP). The density of the subbasal nerves was calculated in the central (CFD) and temporal (TFD) cornea (number of fibres per field).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On day 14, surgery reduced CFD and TFD, respectively, by 25-35 and 50%; indices of ocular surface stability were all impaired. The treatment with CoQ(10) was associated with faster nerve regeneration than SS (at month 3, CFD +1.5 ± 1.9 vs. +0.2 ± 1.8, p = 0.04, and TFD +2.5 ± 1.7 vs. +1.0 ± 1.6, p = 0.007; at month 6, TFD +2.7 ± 1.9 vs. +1.4 ± 1.5, p = 0.02) and better stability of ocular surface (NIBUT and BUT) throughout the study. No relevant side effects were found, apart from occasional burning in 10% of CoQ(10) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes of the corneal nerves occurring after cataract surgery may influence the integrity of the ocular surface. Treatment with topical CoQ(10) has a positive effect in restoring SBP anatomy and ocular surface stability.
authors.affiliation: G.B. Bietti Foundation for the Study and Research in Ophthalmology, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. fogagnolopaolo@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fogagnolo
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sacchi
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceresara
authors.forename: Ruggiero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paderni
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lapadula
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orzalesi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossetti
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D014815:Vitamins; D014451:Ubiquinone; D014810:Vitamin E; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C024989:coenzyme Q10; C014225:tocophersolan