Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the efficacy of PG/PEG/(with HP-Guar as gelling agent) lubricating eyedrop in reducing signs and symptoms in patients affected by both, dry eye and blepharitis during "real" treatment conditions.
Methods: :
40 eyes from 20 patients (1 man and 19 women) were studied in the external clinic of a public hospital. Mean age was 69’6 years, ranging from 38 to 85. They all finished the study. Admission criteria included: punctate keratitis in at least one quadrant of the cornea, complain of chronic dry eye symptoms and signs of blepharitis. All the patients underwent biomicroscopy before starting the treatment and after 4 weeks of using the PG/PEG/HP-Guar product. The patients also answered a questionnaire about dry eye symptoms and artificial tears use.
Results: :
All the patients improved symptoms, showing statistically significant differences between the scale results before and after treatment. Corneal staining also showed a statistically significant reduction (p< 0,001) with an improvement in 87, 5% of the patients. In addition, patients exhibited improved symptoms when treated with PG/PEG/HP-Guar artificial tears.
Conclusions: :
PG/PEG/HP-Guar lubricating eyedrop is a useful solution for treating dry eye in patients with blepharitis, in everyday clinical practice.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • drug toxicity/drug effects • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications