title: Comparison of Topical Cyclosporine and Diquafosol Treatment in Dry Eye.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the treatment effects of topical cyclosporine A (CsA) and diquafosol sodium (DQS) for the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, nonrandomized, comparative study involved 60 eyes of 60 patients with moderate to severe DED who were treated with topical CsA 0.05% (group 1, 31 patients) or DQS 3% (group 2, 29 patients) in addition to artificial tears for 3 months. Before treatment, and at 1 and 3 months after treatment, the Ocular Surface Disease Index, tear breakup time, Schirmer score, tear clearance rate, and corneal and conjunctival staining scores were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements in Ocular Surface Disease Index score, tear clearance rate, and corneal staining score were observed 1 month after treatment in group 2 (p = 0.014, p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively), when compared with group 1. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups 3 months after treatment (p > 0.05). Tear breakup times were significantly higher in group 2 compared with group 1 for the duration of the study (p < 0.001). Three months after treatment, Schirmer score was significantly higher and conjunctival staining score was significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2 (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both topical CsA 0.05% and DQS 3% are effective in patients with moderate to severe DED. However, the timing and degree of therapeutic effects on tear film and ocular surface parameters, as well as symptoms, can be different between the two treatments.
authors.affiliation: *MD †PhD ‡MD, PhD Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea (JMY, WC, KCY); Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea (NK); and Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea (NK, KCY).
authors.forename: Jee Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Won
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nacksung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058912:Purinergic P2Y Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology; D014500:Uracil Nucleotides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011122:Polyphosphates; D058912:Purinergic P2Y Receptor Agonists; D014500:Uracil Nucleotides; C403315:diquafosol; D016572:Cyclosporine