Evaluation of oxidative stress levels in the conjunctival epithelium of patients with or without dry eye, and dry eye patients treated with preservative-free hyaluronic acid 0.15 % and vitamin B12 eye drops

Evaluation of oxidative stress levels in the conjunctival epithelium of patients with or without dry eye, and dry eye patients treated with preservative-free hyaluronic acid 0.15 % and vitamin B12 eye drops. A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled study

 Article specifications

This clinical trial was published in 2015 in journal of Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (IF 2016:2.349) by Italian ophthalmologists. 103 patients divided in 3 groups: patients with dry eye randomized to 3 groups: patients with dry eye who were not receiving any therapy (n=29), patients with dry eye without any therapy before enrollment (group 2a), patients who started treatment with preservative-free eye drops containing hyaluronic acid 0.15 % and vitamin B12 four times a day 1 month before surgery and were then examined for all parameters except oxidative stress 1 day before surgery (group 2b) (n=32), and a control group of patients without dry eye (group 3) (n=42). Patients were assessed by Schirmer’s type I test, fluorescein clearance test (FCT), Break Up Time (BUT), and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Lipid peroxidation, a marker of oxidative stress, was assessed by LP-CHOLOX test.

Results

Increased oxidative stress is present in patients with dry eye compared with those without dry eye. Treatment with eye drops containing hyaluronic acid 0.15 % and vitamin B12 reduces oxidative stress markers in addition to improving the symptoms of dry eye. Further study of the effects of this treatment in controlled clinical trials is warranted.