One month use of Systane^® improves ocular surface parameters in subjects with moderate symptoms of ocular dryness

Piera Versura, Vincenzo Profazio, Emilio C Campos

Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Section of Ophthalmology, Alma Mater Studiorum University at Bologna, Bologna, Italy

The data in this paper were first presented at the 9th International Ocular Inflammation Society (IOIS) Annual Meeting, September 17–20, 2007, Paris, France, and the European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER) Congress, October 3–6, 2007, Portoroz, Slovenia

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Systane^® Lubricating Eye Drops in improving the symptoms of moderate ocular dryness.

Methods: Fifty subjects with moderate symptoms of ocular dryness were enrolled in this open label study. The mean age of subjects was 57.6 ± 15.4 years. To be eligible, subjects’ tear film break-up time (TFBUT) had to be <10 seconds, and subjects had to have at least one ocular discomfort symptom in addition to dryness. Saline was used for a wash-out period of 3–5 days. Subjects were re-examined, and those continuing to meet the inclusion criteria were dispensed Systane^® and re-examined again after 28 days. At each visit, slitlamp examination was conducted, and ocular discomfort symptoms and TFBUT were evaluated. Subjects rated their overall satisfaction at baseline and on the last visit.

Results: No significant changes in TFBUT or ocular discomfort symptoms were observed after saline use, compared with screening visit. After 28 days of Systane^® use there was statistically significant improvement of TFBUT (p = 0.0001) compared with baseline. Subjects experienced significant symptomatic relief for all 6 ocular discomfort symptoms at the endpoint visit.

Conclusion: Systane^® effectively relieved the symptoms associated with moderate ocular dryness, with measurable improvement in objective TFBUT, subjective symptoms, and overall satisfaction.

Keywords: Systane, lubricant eye drops, TFBUT, ocular dryness, ocular symptoms