Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the therapeutic effects of topical heparin (Hylo-Parin®, Ursapharm Saarbr cken, Germany) and spray type phospholipids (Tears Again®, Optima Pharmazeutische GmbH. Freising, Germany) in severe dry eye syndrome resistant to conventional therapy.
Methods
Twenty eyes of ten patients with refractory severe dry eye were treated with Hylo-Parin® (two times a day) and Tears Again® (three times a day) for three months. Before and one and three months after treatment, a symptom questionnaire was administered to the patients. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear film breakup time, Schirmer test, conjunctival fluorescein staining examinations and filamentary keratitis were evaluated.
Results
After using Tears Again® and Hylo-Parin®, the OSDI score improved from 64.13 ± 15.12 to 43.80 ± 15.87 (p<0.01). Tear film breakup time significantly increased from 1.0 ± 0.65 to 2.3 ± 0.73 seconds (p<0.01) and conjunctival staining score (Oxford scale) significantly decreased from 3.85 ± 0.75 to 3.25 ± 0.97 (p<0.01). Filamentary keratitis in the slit-lamp examination showed significant improvement (p<0.01).
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