Efficacy and safety of carbomer-based lipid-containing artificial tear formulations in patients with dry eye syndrome

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of carbomerbased lipid-containing artificial tear formulations (CBLAT) in patients with dry eye syndrome. Methods: A multicenter parallel-group study was conducted in 412 patients with dry eye syndrome. Of these patients, 221 switched from using artificial tears to CBLAT (switching group) and 191 added CBLAT to their current treatment (add-on group). Ocular symptom scores, ocular staining grades, tear film breakup time (tBUT), Schirmer I test value, and Korean dry eye level (as defined by the Korean Corneal Disease Study Group guidelines) were evaluated at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, ocular surface staining grade, tBUT, Schirmer I value, ocular irritation symptom scores, and the positive rate of visual symptom improved significantly in both groups. Mean reductions in ocular surface staining grades (20.8 ± 0.9) and ocular irritation symptom scores (20.8 ± 0.8) in the add-on group were significantly higher than those (20.5 ± 0.8 and 20.6 ± 0.8) in the switching group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The positive rate of visual symptoms (44.2%) in the add-on group was significantly higher than that (26.4%) in the switching group (P < 0.01). The decrease of Korean dry eye level was 30.1% in the switching group and 51.6% in the add-on group. More patients in the add-on group had decreased dry eye levels than those in the switching group (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: CBLAT improves ocular surface staining grades, tBUT, Schirmer I values, and ocular symptoms in patients with dry eye syndrome.