Comparison of Therapeutic Effects of 3% Diquafosol Tetrasodium with Aging in Dry Eye

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of 3% diquafosol in dry eye patients aged around 60 years. METHODS: In total, 68 patients with dry eye syndrome were divided by age into 2 groups, Group I (29 patients, 29 eyes) under the age of 60 years and Group II (39 patients, 39 eyes) over the age of 60 years. To evaluate the effectiveness of 3% diquafosol, we measured the tear film break-up time (tBUT), performed the Schirmer I test, and used the corneal staining score as an objective indicator and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score as a subjective indicator at initial visit, 1 month, 2 months, and 4 months. RESULTS: Significant improvements in the tear film break-up time, Schirmer I test, and OSDI were observed at 1,2, and 4 months after treatment with 3% diquafosol tetrasodium in both dry eye groups, but significant difference in the corenal staining score were not observed (p > 0.05). There were statistically significant improvement between the 2 age groups in the tBUT at 1 month (p = 0.012), 2 months (p = 0.005), and 4 months (p = 0.005), and improvements in the Schirmer I test between the 2 age groups at 1 month (p = 0.015), 2 months (p = 0.005), and 4 months (p = 0.005) were also observed. But, there was no significant difference in the corneal staining score and OSDI score between the 2 groups at 1, 2, and 4 months (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Topical 3% diquafosol tetrasodium administration was shown to be an effective treatment to improve clinical symptoms and objective indicators in dry eye patients regardless of age, showing significant improvements in tBUT and the Schirmer I test under the age of 60.