title: Comparison of the clinical efficacy of preserved and preservative-free hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-dextran-containing eyedrops.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two sustained-release formulation of artificial tear drops.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a randomized patient-masked clinical trial, a total 88 patients into two group A (n=41; with single dose of artificial tear, containing dextran 70, 1mg/ml and hypromellose, 3mg/ml hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and group B (n=47; with multidose of artificial tear, containing 0.3g HPMC and 0.1g of dextran 70, with 0.01% benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as preservative) were completed the study. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear break up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining and Schirmer test, were performed. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess the differences among the two products. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of age of the participants in the Group A and B was 44.08±6.29 (range, 33-58 years) years and 45.83±8.42 (31-60 years), respectively. In comparing two groups before the intervention, the OSDI scores, the TBUT scores, the conjunctival and corneal staining scores and the Schirmer scores did not show statistically significant differences (p=0.339, p=0.640, p=0.334, p=0.807 and p=0.676, respectively). After 4 weeks, the OSDI scores, conjunctival and corneal staining scores showed improvement in compare to those before the intervention (p<0.001). But, the differences for the Schirmer test score and TBUT score was not significant (p=0.115, p=0.013, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our outcomes indicated that improvement occurred with use of both products but there was no statistically significant difference between them.
authors.affiliation: Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: safarzade_masoud@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bahman Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Azizzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, Shahid Beheshti of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Pedram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Akbarshahi
mesh_terms: D060433:Administration, Ophthalmic; D000328:Adult; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005143:Eyelids / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D003911:Dextrans; D004338:Drug Combinations; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives
keywords: Artificial tear drops; Dry eye syndrome; Hidroxipropil metilcelulosa; Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; Lágrimas artificiales; Síndrome de ojo seco