Dry eye disease (DED) is a highly prevalent ocular condition and induces a significant burden to the affected patients. Regardless of the underlying etiology, DED is associated with increased inflammation of the entire ocular surface including the adnexa, conjunctiva and cornea. As such, there is evidence from in vitro, animal and clinical studies that this inflammatory response of the ocular surface plays a pathophysiological key role in the development of DED. The Dry Eye Workshop 2007 (DEWS) therefore suggests the use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids, cyclosporine or others when topical lubricants alone are not sufficient. Recently, Softacort® eye drops containing 0.335% hydrocortisone have gained marketing authorization for the treatment of ocular surface inflammation. This formulation offers several advantages that make them potentially interesting for the treatment of DED. First, the formulation is preservative-free, which is of special importance in patients with DED, since it has been shown that preservatives are detrimental for the ocular surface. Further, hydrocortisone has the advantage that in comparison to other glucocorticoid derivatives, it features poor solubility. This means that corneal penetration is low, which is a desired effect in the treatment of ocular surface inflammation. Because of the poor penetration through thecornea, elevation of intraocular pressure and cataract formation, which are common side effect of corticosteroid treatment, have not been observed with Softacort® to date, also favoring the use of this agent in DED. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether treatment with Softacort® improves ocular surface inflammation as well as clinical signs and symptoms associated with DED in patients who are already taking topical lubricants for at least three months.

Inclusion criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Normal ophthalmic findings except dry eye disease
• Ametropy ≤ 6 diopters
• Chronic dry eye defined as longer than six months since diagnosis
• OSDI ≥ 22
• Conjunctival Hyperemia ≥ Grade 3 (Efron Scale)
• Current use of topical lubricants since at least 3 months

Exclusion criteria:

• Best far corrected visual acuity < 1/10
• Severe Dry Eye associated with:
• Eyelid malposition
• Sjogren Syndrome
• Steven Johnson Syndrome
• Corneal dystrophy
• Ocular neoplasia
• Filamentous keratitis
• Corneal neovascularisation
• Orbital radiotherapy
• History of any of the following within last 3 months:
• Systemic treatment of dry eye
• Systemic treatment of MGD
• Isotretinoide,
• Cyclosporine,
• Tacrolimus, Siromilus, Pimecrolimus
• Punctual plugs
• Anti-glaucoma treatment
• History of any of the following within previous six months:
• ocular trauma
• ocular infection, ocular allergy
• History of any of the following within last 12 months:
• inflammatory corneal ulcer
• Herpetic eye infection or uveitis
• Ocular surgery
• History of IOP increase caused by systemic or topical treatment with corticosteroids
• IOP > 22mmHg
• Glaucoma in the medical history
• Known hypersensitivity to any of the components of the IMP under investigation or other study medication
• Allergic rhinitis; active or susceptible to reactivation during the study
• Pregnant or breast-feeding woman.
• Woman of childbearing potential (neither menopausal, nor hysterectomized, nor sterilized) not using effective contraception (oral contraceptives, intrauterine device, contraceptive implant or condoms)
• Inability of patient to understand the investigation procedures and thus inability to give valid, informed consent.
• Non-compliant patient (e.g. not willing to attend the follow-up visits, way of life interfering with compliance)
• Participation in another clinical study or clinical investigation at the same time as the present investigation
• Participation to the present clinical investigation during the exclusion period of another clinical study
• Patient already included once in this clinical investigation
• Patient under guardianship