Artificial Tears Effective for Dry Eye Management After LASIK

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Optive Sensitive Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops (Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) were safe and effective for the management of dry eye symptoms following LASIK, according to a poster presented at the ASCRS annual meeting in San Francisco.¹

In a multicenter, double-masked trial, investigators randomized patients with no preexisting dry eye to use Optive Sensitive (n = 114 eyes of 228 patients) or Allergan's Refresh Plus (n = 114 eyes of 228 patients) for 90 days after LASIK. Dry eye symptoms were evaluated before surgery and 2, 14, 30, 60, and 90 days after LASIK.

Researchers found that the mean ocular surface disease index and corneal fluorescein staining scores followed a similar trend in both groups. They peaked on days 2 and 14, respectively, and then steadily decreased through day 90. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (P=.033). Patients who used Optive Sensitive experienced less ocular surface staining 2 weeks after surgery when compared with patients who used Refresh Plus (P=.039). Both groups had similar improvement trends from baseline in UCVA and continuously decreased their use of artificial tears from day 14 to day 90 (P<.001).

1. Simmons PA, Carlisle-Wilcox C, Binder PS. Safety, efficacy, and acceptability of Optive Senstive for dry eye treatment after LASIK surgery. Poster presented at: The 2009 ASCRS Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery; April 4, 2009; San Francisco, CA.

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