Effects of Preservative-free 3% Diquafosol in Patients with Pre-existing Dry Eye Disease after Cataract Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 12659 - 9
• Main Authors: Jun, Ikhyun, Choi, Seonghee, Lee, Geun Young, Choi, Young Joon, Lee, Hyung Keun, Kim, Eung Kweon, Seo, Kyoung Yul, Kim, Tae-im
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 02.09.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 692/1807/1482; 692/700/565/1436; Aged; Cataract Extraction - adverse effects; Cataracts; Cornea; Dry Eye Syndromes - drug therapy; Dry Eye Syndromes - physiopathology; Eye; Eye diseases; Eye surgery; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Male; Meibomian Glands - drug effects; Meibomian Glands - physiopathology; multidisciplinary; Patients; Polyphosphates - pharmacology; Polyphosphates - therapeutic use; Preservatives; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical - therapeutic use; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Surgery; Uracil Nucleotides - pharmacology; Uracil Nucleotides - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49159-0

Dry eye disease (DED) after cataract surgery has become a critical concern, and various therapeutic options have been developed. Recently, preservative-free diquafosol ophthalmic solution has been introduced; however, its therapeutic effect on DED after cataract surgery has not been reported. We investigated the efficacy of preservative-free diquafosol in patients with pre-existing DED after cataract surgery. We divided subjects who were diagnosed with DED and scheduled to undergo cataract surgery, into 3 groups (preservative-free diquafosol, group 1; preservative-containing diquafosol, group 2; preservative-free hyaluronate, group 3), and each eye drops was administered 6 times daily after surgery. Tear break up time (TBUT), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), corneal staining score, lid margin abnormality, and meibum quality improved over time in group 1. Groups 1 and 2 had significantly superior TBUT, meibomian gland dysfunction grade, and meibomian gland expressibility throughout the study period than group 3. Meibum quality of group 1 was significantly better than group 2 at 1 and 3 months after surgery. Preservative-free diquafosol showed better efficacy in treating DED after cataract surgery than preservative-containing diquafosol or preservative-free hyaluronate. Preservative-free diquafosol may serve as a reliable option for the management of patients with pre-existing DED after phacoemulsification.