comparing the performance of 0.1% (w/v) sodium hyaluronate with 1.4% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol in the alleviation of symptoms associated with dry eye syndrome

A randomized, crossover, multicenter study to compare the performance of 0.1% (w/v) sodium hyaluronate with 1.4% (w/v) polyvinyl  alcohol in the alleviation of symptoms associated with dry eye syndrome.

Article specifications

This randomized, crossover, multicenter study was published in 2002 in EYE journal of nature publishing group (IF2015:2.213) by British ophthalmologists. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 0.1% (w/v) solution of sodiumhyaluronate in the alleviation of symptoms of severe dry eye in comparison with a 1.4% (w/v) solution of polyvinyl alcohol.

Patients with dry eye syndrome in 5 different hospital were divided in 2 group one administrated 0.1% (w/v) solution of sodiumhyaluronate and other group 1.4% (w/v) solution of polyvinyl alcohol for a period of 4 weeks. Both products were administered as 1–2 drops topically to the eye three four times a day or as required. After 4 weeks patients were crossover to the other study product. The subjective VAS measurements were repeated 2 weeks and 4 weeks at which time patients were crossed over to the other study product and 2and 4 weeks after crossover. There was no washout period between the two treatments.

 

Results

The results of the study show a significant clinical benefit in terms of relief of the symptom of burning in those dry eye patients receiving 0.1% (w/v) sodium hyaluronate compared with 1.4% (w/v) solution of polyvinyl alcohol. There was no significant difference in the symptom of grittiness between the two study groups. This study showed that hyaluronate   is safe and provides a worthwhile clinical benefit in terms of symptom relief and protection of the corneal epithelium in patients with severe dry eye syndrome.