Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.49(11) > 1008123

Eun and Choun: Efficacy of Vitamin A-containing Lubricant in Dry Eye Syndrome Evaluated by Impression Cytology

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of topical vitamin A-containing lubricant in dry eye patients.

Methods

Three hundred eyes of 150 patients with dry eye (Schirmer I test≤10 mm, BUT≤10 seconds) were divided into three groups. Preservative-containing artificial tears, preservative-free artificial tears, and vitamin A-containing lubricant were administrated to Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (N=50). We evaluated and checked symptom scores, tear film breakup time (tBUT), Schirmer I test results, corneal fluorescein stain scores, and impression cytology immediately and at 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment.

Results

Mean tBUT and goblet cell density significantly increased from 5.06±1.25 to 6.76±1.21 sec and from 125.62±61.52 to 192.86±69.38 cell/mm2, respectively, after 2 months in group 3 ( P<0.05). Impression cytology grade significantly decreased from 2.14±0.38 to 1.67±0.41 after 2 months in group 3 ( P<0.05). The Schirmer I test score significantly increased from 9.12±4.15 to 12.83±0.96 mm, and the corneal stain score decreased from 2.13±0.95 to 1.18±0.68 after 3 months in group 3 ( P<0.05).

Conclusions

The improvement of symptoms and the stabilization of tear films and ocular surfaces suggested that treatment with vitamin A-containing lubricant for dry eye was effective.

References

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Figure 1
. Change from the baseline in blurred vision symptom scale. O-HU=Lacure®; O-RFR=Refresh plus®; O-viva=Viva®; Mean value±standard error. Graded on a symptom scale from 0 to 4. Statistically significant decreases of blurred vision from baseline at all follow-up visits in group 3 are shown (* P<0.05 by Mann-Whitney U Test).
jkos-49-1729f1.tif
Figure 2
. Change from the baseline in tear breakup time. O-HU=Lacure®; O-RFR=Refresh plus®; O-viva Viva®; Mean value±standard error. The increase from the baseline in tear breakup time (sec) was statistically significant in group 3 at 2 months and 3 months. (* P<0.05 by paired-T-test).
jkos-49-1729f2.tif
Figure 3
. Change from baseline in Schirmer I test. O-HU: Lacure®; O-RFR: Refresh plus®; O-viva: Viva® Mean value± standard error. The increase from baseline in Schirmer test value (mm) was statistically significant in groups 3 at 3 months. (* P<0.05 by paired-T-test).
jkos-49-1729f3.tif
Figure 4
. Change from the baseline in impression cytology grade. O-HU=Lacure®; O-RFR=Refresh plus®; O-viva=Viva®; Mean value±standard error. The decrease from the baseline in impression cytology grade was statistically significant in group 3 at 2 months and 3 months. (* P<0.05 by Mann- Whitney U Test).
jkos-49-1729f4.tif
Figure 5
. Example of impression cytology after 3 months in each group. Group 1=Lacure®; Group 2=Refresh plus®. Group 3= Viva®. There was no significant improvement in impression cytology after 3 months in group 1 (A=Stage 3-initial; B=Stage 3-after 3 months) and group 2 (C=Stage 3-initial; D=Stage 3-after 3 months). But improvement of impression cytology was shown after 3 months in group 3 (E=Stage 3-initial, F=Stage 2-after 3 months) (×100, PAS-hematoxylin stain). <Stage 0- Normal, Stage 1-early loss of goblet cells, Stage 2- total loss of goblet cells, Stage 3- early keratinization, Stage 4- moderate keratinization, Stage 5- advanced keratinization>
jkos-49-1729f5.tif
Figure 6
. Change from baseline in goblet cells density. O-HU: Lacure®, O-RFR: Refresh plus®, O-viva: Viva®; Mean value±standard error. The increase from baseline in goblet cells density (cell/mm2) was statistically significant in group 3 at 2 months and 3 months. (* P<0.05 by paired-T-test).
jkos-49-1729f6.tif
Figure 7
. Change from the baseline in corneal stain score. O-HU=Lacure®; O-RFR=Refresh plus®; O-viva=Viva®; Mean value±standard error. The decrease from baseline in corneal stain score was statistically significant in group 3 at 3 months. (* P<0.05 by Mann-Whitney U Test).
jkos-49-1729f7.tif
Table 1.
Initial characteristics of each group
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Age 41.34±9.72 38.29±8.38 35.86±8.47
Sex (M:F) 23:27 24:26 17:33
BUT 5.56±1.32 5.54±2.06 5.06±1.25
Schirmer I 8.97±4.01 9.01±3.98 9.12±4.15
Impression cytology grade 2.46±0.58 2.83±0.71 2.14±0.38
Goblet cell density (cell/mm2) 114.29±45.26 108.79±39.58 125.62±61.52
Corneal staining score 1.98±0.88 2.07±0.74 2.13±0.95
Data represent mean±standard deviation. Group 1=Lacure®; Group 2=Refresh plus®; Group 3=Viva®; There was no statistically significant difference among three groups in all initial characteristics by one way ANOVA (age, BUT, Schirmer, Goblet cell density) and Kruskall-Wallis test (impression cytology grade, corneal staining score).
Table 2.
Patient disposition during 3-month follow-up
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Patients enrolled 50 (100%) 50 (100%) 50 (100%)
Patients completed 41 (82%) 44 (88%) 46 (92%)
Patients discontinued 9 (18%) 6 (12%) 4 (8%)
Adverse events 2 (4%) 1 (2%) 3 (6%)
Other reasons* 7 (14%) 5 (10%) 1 (2%)

* Includes lost to follow up, personal reasons, and noncompliance; Group 1=Lacure®; Group 2=Refresh plus®; Group 3=Viva®.

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