Efficacy and Tolerability of Anti-inflammatory Drugs in the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Dry eye syndrome (DES) can affect visual function and general quality of life. It is accompanied by increased osmolarity and inflammation on the ocular surface, leading to insufficient tear secretion and excessive evaporation.  Aims: The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of dry eye syndrome. Study Design: This is a retrospective and comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Ophthalmology Department of Kasserine between January 2024 and December 2024. Methodology: We included 100 patients with DES. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups via computer-generated randomisation to: -Group 1 (G1, n=50): Carbomer gel (0.2%) + Dexamethasone 0.1% eye drops -Group 2 (G2, n=50): Carbomer gel alone with a variable number of instillations depending on the severity of corneal damage. The mean age of our patients was 56 +/-9 years for group 1 and 60 +/- 7 years for group 2, with a higher proportion of women in both groups (47 for group 1 and 48 for group 2). The two groups were statically comparable in terms of age and sex Response to treatment was assessed by ocular surface examination and fluorescein testing, measurement of tear film break-up time and the Schirmer test, and a quality-of-life questionnaire (QSD-QOL) and compared in patient treated with carbomer gel and a steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drop (group1), and patients treated with carbomer gel alone (group2). Results: Reflex lacrimation, pruritus and sand-grain sensation symptoms improved significantly more in group 1 than in group 2, with a statistically significant difference. Evaluation of the therapeutic response according to the QOL questionnaire was also statistically better for group 1, with 66% of patients rating their improvement as satisfactory to very satisfactory, compared with 44% of patients in group 2. Conclusion: The combination of anti-inflammatory drugs and carbomer gels is an interesting way of managing dry eye, given the significant role played by the inflammatory component in the alteration of the tear film.