AST Combined With 0.05% Cyclosporin Eye Drop Improve Corneal Nerve Density in Patients With SS Dry Eye

Autologous Serum Tears Combined With 0.05% Cyclosporin Eye Drop Improve Corneal Nerve Density in Patients With Sjögren's Syndrome Dry Eye

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of autologous serum tears combined with 0.05% cyclosporin eye drop in treating Sjögren's syndrome dry eye and their effect on corneal nerves. We assessed the impact of 12-week AST combined with 0.05% cyclosporin eye drop treatment on signs, symptoms, and sub-basal nerve density (SND) in patients with dry eyes related to Sjogren's syndrome.

Objective: To describe the clinical efficacy and safety of the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome dry eye using autologous serum tears combined with 0.05% cyclosporin eye drop and to evaluate their effect on corneal nerves.

Design: Singal-center, prospective, observational study. Patients and methods: Thirty eyes of fifteen patients with dry eye related to Sjögren syndrome were enrolled in this study. Following a 4-week washout period, the treatment was inverted for each patient for the same duration and treatment. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear film, break-up time, corneal staining with the use of fluorescein, Schirmer's test and corneal confocal microscopy were investigated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients were diagnosed with SS according to the classification criteria defined by the American-European Consensus Group for the diagnosis of SS and also diagnosed with severe DED based on the consensus of Chinese dry eye experts.
• Age 18-65 years old.
• Controlled collagen disease by the same rheumatologists at least 3 months prior to the initiation of the trial.
• At least one eye that failed to respond to previous treatments including lartificial tears, topical ocular NSAIDs or corticosteroids.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with DED related to meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, abnormal blinking, conjunctival relaxation or any other diseases besides SS.
• Diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis, uveitis, ocular hypertension, retinopathy and other eye diseases.
• Those who have a history of previous ocular oprations, eye injuries or contact lenses usage.
• Known hypersensitivity to experimental drugs or any of its ingredients.
• Necessity to modify the systemic treatment of previous diseases during the trial.
• Pregnancy or lactation.
• Severe systemic disease.