Effect of bromhexine on dry eye

A great immunological resemblance exists between the external eye and respiratory tract. Dryness lowers ocular resistance. Bromhexine gave excellent results in combating chest infection through augmentation of amount of bronchial secretion, being a bronchial mucolytic drug. We used bromhexine in treating dryness caused by Sjogren's syndrome and trachomatous cicatrisation in 100 eyes. Bromhexine proved to be effective in the majority of cases, but of very short duration. Cases were diagnosed and followed by quantitative rose bengal, and affirmed by Shirmer's test and B.U.T.