title: Effect of a hyaluronic acid and carboxymethylcellulose ophthalmic solution on ocular comfort and tear-film instability after cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using sodium hyaluronate 0.1% and carboxymethylcellulose 0.5% artificial tears for ocular discomfort and tear-film stability in eyes after cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty ophthalmic centers in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled patients scheduled for unilateral cataract surgery. After surgery, patients received artificial tears and a topical steroid-antibiotic (study group) or topical steroid-antibiotic alone (control group) and were assessed postoperatively at 1 and 5 weeks. Outcome measures were tear breakup time (TBUT), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), frequency of dry-eye symptoms evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS), and corneal fluorescein staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised 282 patients. At 5 weeks, the mean TBUT was statistically significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (P = .0003). The mean OSDI score statistically significantly improved in both groups from 1 to 5 weeks (P < .0001 for both groups); however, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups at these timepoints. The artificial tears statistically significantly improved VAS-assessed dry-eye symptoms in the study group compared with the control group at 5 weeks (P < .001). The mean corneal fluorescein staining was significantly reduced in the study group compared with the control group at 5 weeks (P = .002 versus P = .05, respectively). No treatment-related adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sodium hyaluronate 0.1% and carboxymethylcellulose 0.5% ophthalmic solution was effective and well tolerated in reducing dry-eye disease symptoms and improving the clinical outcome after cataract surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: rita.mencucci@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mencucci
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boccalini
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Favuzza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D055675:Viscosupplements; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium