Marco Messina1, Harminder S Dua2. 1. Section of Academic Ophthalmology, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Ophthalmology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Nottingham, Derby Road, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK. 2. Section of Academic Ophthalmology, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Ophthalmology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Nottingham, Derby Road, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK. harminder.dua@nottingham.ac.uk.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of once daily administration of chitosan-N-acetylcysteine (Lacrimera®) in the management of dry eye disease (DED). METHODS: Eighteen patients (3 male, 15 female) aged 25-86 years (mean 61.1) and suffering from moderate to severe DED with superficial punctate keratitis (SPK) were retrospectively evaluated after a trial of Lacrimera® drops (1 drop in the morning for 5 days only). All the patients were using other artificial tears before the treatment. All lubricants were stopped, and Lacrimera® was started instead. Slit-lamp examination and images were taken before and at 1 and 3 weeks follow-up after the treatment. The subjective (Ocular Surface Disease Index, OSDI) and objective (Oxford Grading System, OGS) evaluation was recorded. A paired student's t test was performed to analyse the data. RESULTS: At baseline, the SPK grade was I to IV (OGS) and the OSDI ranged from 25 to 71.4. Fifteen patients showed a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvement in OGS and the OSDI at 3 weeks post-treatment. Three patients showed no improvement. CONCLUSIONS: A single-dose instillation of chitosan-N-acetylcysteine for five consecutive days improved signs and symptoms in patients affected from DED from a variety of causes, who were refractory to standard treatment with lubricants. Given its posology, the absence of side effects and the results obtained Lacrimera® should be taken into consideration as a viable option in patients with moderate to severe DED.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of once daily administration of chitosan-N-acetylcysteine (Lacrimera®) in the management of dry eye disease (DED). METHODS: Eighteen patients (3 male, 15 female) aged 25-86 years (mean 61.1) and suffering from moderate to severe DED with superficial punctate keratitis (SPK) were retrospectively evaluated after a trial of Lacrimera® drops (1 drop in the morning for 5 days only). All the patients were using other artificial tears before the treatment. All lubricants were stopped, and Lacrimera® was started instead. Slit-lamp examination and images were taken before and at 1 and 3 weeks follow-up after the treatment. The subjective (Ocular Surface Disease Index, OSDI) and objective (Oxford Grading System, OGS) evaluation was recorded. A paired student's t test was performed to analyse the data. RESULTS: At baseline, the SPK grade was I to IV (OGS) and the OSDI ranged from 25 to 71.4. Fifteen patients showed a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvement in OGS and the OSDI at 3 weeks post-treatment. Three patients showed no improvement. CONCLUSIONS: A single-dose instillation of chitosan-N-acetylcysteine for five consecutive days improved signs and symptoms in patients affected from DED from a variety of causes, who were refractory to standard treatment with lubricants. Given its posology, the absence of side effects and the results obtained Lacrimera® should be taken into consideration as a viable option in patients with moderate to severe DED.
Authors: Louis Tong; Li Lim; Donald Tan; Wee Jin Heng; Jimmy Lim; Cordelia Chan; Anshu Arundhati; Anna Tan Journal: Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) Date: 2021-11-11