Treatment of patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca with Optive™: results of a multicenter, open-label observational study in Germany

Original Research

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Authors: Thomas Kaercher, Patricia Buchholz, Friedemann Kimmich

Published Date November 2008 Volume 2009:3 Pages 33 - 39

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S4501

Thomas Kaercher¹, Patricia Buchholz², Friedemann Kimmich³

¹Augenarztpraxis, Heidelberg, Germany; ²Allergan Europe, Ettlingen, Germany; ³Eyecons, Pfinztal, Germany

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Optive^TM, a new dry eye product containing sodium carboxymethylcellulose (0.5%) and glycerol (0.9%), in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).

Methods: This was a non-interventional and observational study including patients with dry eye who required a change of medication or were naïve to dry eye treatment (N = 5,277). Disease severity, tear break-up time (TBUT), tolerability, and change in clinical symptoms were recorded at baseline and at final visit (2 to 4 weeks after first treatment).

Results: The severity of KCS was mild in 18.6%, moderate in 59.9%, and severe in 21.5% of patients based on physicians’ assessment. TBUT was measured in 4,338 patients before switching to or initiating therapy with Optive and at final visit. Baseline measurement of mean TBUT was 7.7 ± 3.9 seconds. This value increased to 10.0 ± 4.7 seconds at final visit. Most patients (85.4%) reported improvement in local comfort. The majority (75.1%) of patients felt an improvement in symptoms after changing their treatment. Two percent of patients reported adverse events, and 0.4% were treatment-related.

Conclusions: Optive was well tolerated and improved the symptoms of dry eye after 2 to 4 weeks.

Keywords: keratoconjunctivitis sicca, dry eye, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, glycerol, Optive^TM

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