Abstract
Purpose :
The purpose of this real-life study is to report the clinical outcomes of a new ophthalmic solution containing 0.2% xanthan gum and 0.025% desonide sodium phosphate used for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).
Methods :
Consecutive patients older than 18 years old affected by DED confirmed by pathological values of both non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) and Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) questionnaire were included. Patients using any other topical therapy, affected by other ocular surface disease or wearing contact lens were excluded. Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 30 days of treatment (T1) by means of slit lamp examination for evaluating corneal fluorescein staining, Schirmer test and Keratograph (K5 M; Oculus GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) for the measurement of NIBUT and bulbar redness. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using Goldmann applanation tonometry. SANDE questionnaire scores and possible adverse events were recorded. Descriptive statistics was computed for all variables. Paired t test was used to compare findings before and after treatment. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results :
Twenty-two eyes of 11 patients (6 females, 5 males; mean age 64.73 years) were included in the study. Data analysis showed a statistically significant reduction of mean SANDE score (66.48 [9.07 SD] at T0 vs 53.86 [12.20 SD] at T1; p=0.0003) and bulbar redness (1.65 [0.59 SD] at T0 vs 1.39 [0.47 SD] at T1, p=0.003); an increase of mean value of Schirmer test was detected, albeit it was not statistically significant (9.81 seconds [5.95 SD] at T0 vs 11.68 [8.76 SD] at T1, p=0.07). One patient presented positive corneal fluorescein staining at T0 (Oxford scale grade 1) which disappeared at T1. Mean value of IOP remained stable within normal range during the study (14.50 mmHg [2.01 SD] vs 14.95mmHg [1.64 SD] at T1). No adverse events were recorded.
Conclusions :
In this preliminary study, the new ophthalmic solution containing 0.2% xanthan gum and 0.025% desonide sodium phosphate improved objective signs and subjective symptoms of DED, while maintaining a high safety profile.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.