title: Facilitation of tear fluid secretion by 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution in normal human eyes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the increase in tear fluid volume induced by 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution in normal human eyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, double-masked, comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy adults (17 males and 3 females; mean age, 38.8 years) underwent topical instillation of 2 ophthalmic solutions, artificial tears in 1 eye and 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution in the fellow eye, in a masked manner. The radius of curvature of the central lower tear meniscus was measured at 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after instillation by use of reflective meniscometry, and subjects' self-evaluated symptoms of wetness and stinging using a visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes after instillation in the radius of curvature from baseline (artificial tear group vs diquafosol group; mean ± standard error of the mean) were as follows: at 5 minutes, -0.008 ± 0.012 vs 0.045 ± 0.013; at 10 minutes, 0.001 ± 0.014 vs 0.057 ± 0.016; at 15 minutes, -0.012 ± 0.014 vs 0.037 ± 0.019; at 30 minutes, -0.010 ± 0.016 vs 0.030 ± 0.025; and at 60 minutes, -0.029 ± 0.012 vs -0.020 ± 0.012. The diquafosol group showed significantly greater values from 5 to 30 minutes after instillation. Of the 40 eyes, 13 showed abnormal tear film breakup time (≤5 seconds). The diquafosol group had significantly more wetness at 15 minutes after instillation than did the artificial tear group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical instillation of 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution increases tear fluid on the ocular surface for up to 30 minutes in normal human eyes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: nyokoi@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058912:Purinergic P2Y Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012016:Reference Values; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014500:Uracil Nucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011122:Polyphosphates; D058912:Purinergic P2Y Receptor Agonists; D014500:Uracil Nucleotides; C403315:diquafosol