Biomedicines (Dec 2023)

Dry Eye Para-Inflammation Treatment: Evaluation of a Novel Tear Substitute Containing Hyaluronic Acid and Low-Dose Hydrocortisone

  • Davide Borroni,
  • Cosimo Mazzotta,
  • Carlos Rocha-de-Lossada,
  • José-María Sánchez-González,
  • Antonio Ballesteros-Sanchez,
  • María García-Lorente,
  • Francisco Zamorano-Martín,
  • Antonio Spinelli,
  • Domenico Schiano-Lomoriello,
  • Giovanni Roberto Tedesco

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11123277
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 12
p. 3277

Abstract

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to check the efficacy and safety of a novel tear substitute containing hyaluronic acid and low-dose hydrocortisone in the treatment of moderate dry eye disease. Methods: In this prospective randomized study, 38 patients with moderate dry eye disease were divided into two treatment groups: Group 1 received one drop of 0.2% sodium hyaluronate and 0.001% hydrocortisone four times daily for 3 months, while Group 2 received 0.15% sodium hyaluronate and 3% trehalose at the same dosage. OSDI and SANDE questionnaires, Non-Invasive Break-Up time (NIBUT), Tear Meniscus Height (TMH), meibography, Lipid Layer Thickness (LLT), Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT), Corneal Staining Score (CFS), and Intraocular Pressure (IOP) were evaluated at baseline and after 1, 2, and 3 months of treatment. Results: During the treatment period, Group 1 showed statistically significant improvement in OSDI score (p = 0.002), SANDE score (p = 0.01), NIBUT (p p p = 0.01), and CFS (p = 0.02). In Group 2, significant improvement was observed only in the TBUT score (p p = 0.001 for both comparisons), with more favorable results for sodium hyaluronate and hydrocortisone than for sodium hyaluronate and trehalose. No significant variations in intraocular pressure were observed in either group during the treatment period (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The study confirms that a 3-months treatment with hyaluronic acid 0.2% in combination with low-dose hydrocortisone 0.001% improves the signs and symptoms of moderate DED and that a low-dosage 0.001% hydrocortisone can be helpful in preventing the progression to chronic stages of DED.

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