PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to test non-inferiority of a lower dose of crosslinked hyaluronic acid (CLHA) to a higher dose of carmellose eye drop in menopause patients receiving antidepressant treatments.

METHODS

This prospective, double-blind, single-center study enrolled sixty female patients. Mean age was 63.25 ± 9.13 years. We examined patients with Schirmer I, breakup time (TBUT) and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) at the first visit. Tear A eyedrops were formulated with crosslinked hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E. Control tear B was formulated with carmellose sodium. Posology was two and five times, respectively.

RESULTS

After 2 months of treatment, the tear A obtained 14.12 ± 7.47 score points for OSDI ( = 11.74,  < 0.01), and tear B obtained 19.46 ± 10.03 score points ( = 7.59,  < 0.01). The tear A obtained 13.77 ± 7.78 score points for Schirmer test ( = 0.88,  > 0.05), and tear B obtained 14.20 ± 8.62 score points ( = 2.92,  < 0.01). The tear A obtained 8.30 ± 2.08 s for TBUT ( = 15.50,  < 0.01), and tear B obtained 7.23 ± 2.40 s ( = 8.79,  < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Lower total daily dose of crosslinked hyaluronic acid eyedrops obtained similar efficacy results in terms of tear stability and subjective dry eye sensation than higher carmellose total daily dose. A lower total daily dose of crosslinked eyedrops was sufficient to achieve better dry eye disease management compared to carmellose.