Abstract
Purpose:
To study the effects of 0.05% cyanocobalamine in combination with 0.5% taurine and 0.5% long-chained hyaluronic acid (IALUVIT® ophthalmic solution, Alfa Intes, Italy) and its impact on functional recovery related to patient comfort, in post-cataract dry eye (PCDE).
Methods:
Records from 20 patients (mean age 75.35+7.07 years, 8 males and 12 females) undergone phacoemulsification (sutureless, temporal incision) were selected. In addition to routine post-operative protocol, 10 patients had received IALUVIT® for 3 months; 10 patients were considered as control. Break-up time (BUT), conjunctival and corneal staining, temporal, central and nasal corneal sensitivity (Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer), were considered before surgery and 1, 7, 30 and 90 days after surgery. Frequency and extent of symptoms (foreign body sensation, stinging, burning, discomfort at blinking) had been registered using a VARS before and 7, 30 and 90 days after surgery.
Results:
BUT, staining scores, and corneal sensitivity were affected by surgery in all patients. BUT increased during the follow-up and it was significantly better in treated patients than controls at day 30 and 90 (respectively, 13.3+0.94 vs 10.8+1.31 at day30 and 13.7+1.05 vs 11.1+1.52 at day90, p<0.0001). Staining scores recovered within 1 month in both groups, with a statistically significant effect of the treatment both at day30 and day90 (p<0.0001). Corneal sensitivity returned to baseline levels in all patients at day90, however the time course in treated eyes was significantly different within each measurement (p<0.0001). Foreign body sensation, stinging and discomfort at blinking were significantly different in treated patients, both as frequency and extent of symptom perception (p<0.0001). No significant change in burning was observed. Finally, there was a strong correlation between symptoms and corneal sensitivity values, at each considered point.
Conclusions:
Despite successful surgery, patients always complain of PCDE related to different causes, including the disruption of normal cornea nerves and sensitivity. The present data show that adding to post-surgery therapy an ophthalmic solution whose ingredients (especially cyanocobalamine and taurine) have an impact on nerves could improve cornea health thus reducing patient dissatisfaction, when the adjunctive therapy is extended from 1 to 3 months after surgery.
Keywords: 486 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye •
445 cataract •
729 taurine