Posters

Topical preservative-free hydrocortisone 3.35 mg/ml for treatment of patients suffering from keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Poster Details

First Author: C.Laufenb�ck AUSTRIA

Co Author(s):                     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

As stated in DEWS II reports, ocular surface inflammation is one of major component in dry eye disease. Corticosteroids are successfully used in the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory diseases, including DED. Preservative use in DED is damaging to the ocular surface. Preservative-free eye drops have shown greater effectiveness than preserved drops in decreasing inflammation on the ocular surface. The study was designed to evaluate topical preservative-free hydrocortisone 0.335% (Softacort®, Laboratoires Théa, France) eye drops combined with Thealoz® Duo (3% Trehalose+ 0.15% Hyaluronic acid, Laboratoires Théa, France) eye drops, especially the one with an inflammatory component.

Setting:

Open label, monocentric study conducted in a private clinic in Austria. 30 eyes of 15 patients suffering from moderate keratoconjunctivitis sicca received Softacort® and Thealoz duo® 3 times a day; each in a two-week period, followed by Thealoz duo® 6 times a day in a four-week period.

Methods:

We evaluated the eyes before starting the therapy and 2 and 6 weeks afterwards. Symptoms were assessed using the OSD-Index. Keratograph 5M® (Oculus, Germany) was used to fathom the NIK-BUT, the conjunctival injection, the anatomical condition of the meibomian glands and the tear meniscus height. To estimate the surface damage, lissamine green (Optitech, India) and the Oxford grading scale were used. Safety was assessed by visual acuity, non-contact tonometry, biomicroscopy, funduscopy, lens examination and by monitoring adverse events and changes in symptoms as well as intraocular pressure.

Results:

There was an improving statistical significant difference between the first and the last examination concerning the OSD-Index, the NIK-BUT, the temporal conjunctival injection and the lissamine green staining. There was no statistical significance concerning the nasal conjunctival injection. Safety evaluations showed no abnormality in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, lens opacity or any adverse event.

Conclusions:

The results showed a strong significance concerning the OSDI, the NIK-BUT und the Oxford grading scale improving both the objective and subjective parameter. No increase of the intraocular pressure was measured. The use of topical Softacort® eye drops in combination with topical Thealoz Duo® eye drops seems to be beneficial and a safe way of treating patients who suffer from mild to moderate keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Financial Disclosure:

None