Phase 3B Study Looks at Dry Eye Disease Treatments

Signs and symptoms of dry eye disease improved in patients who took either 0.1% hyaluronic acid (HA) or 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) 3 times daily, according to a prospective, randomized, multicenter, phase 3B noninferiority study. Those receiving 0.1% HA reported less stinging and itching.

Participants received either 0.1% HA or 0.5% CMC. Investigators looked at ocular surface (OS) staining change between day 0 and day 35, as well as OS-staining score (SS), ocular comfort index, tear-film breakup time, and how patients and investigators rated efficacy and safety at day 84. Among the results:

• Patients receiving 0.1% HA had a 47% reduction in OS-SS at day 35 compared with day 0, vs 35% in those taking CMC drops. 
• The SS difference at day 84 was reduced by 59% and 54%, respectively.
• Ocular comfort scores improved in both groups at day 84; those receiving 0.1% HA had significantly better scores for stinging and itching.
• Patients taking 0.1% HA assessed their treatment as significantly better than 0.5% CMC.
• Adverse events rates were 10% and 5%, respectively; there were no serious adverse events in either group.

Groß D, Childs M, Piaton JM. Comparative study of 0.1% hyaluronic acid versus 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose in patients with dry eye associated with moderate keratitis or keratoconjunctivitis. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018:11;12:1081-1088. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S161578.