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Effects of diquafosol tetrasodium administration on visual function in short break-up time dry eye
Minako Kaido1, Miki Uchino, Takashi Kojima
1Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. fwiw1193@mb.infoweb.ne.jp
Purpose:
To investigate the effect of diquafosol tetrasodium on tear and visual function in short break-up time (sBUT) dry eye (DE).
Methods:
This interventional nonrandomized comparative study involved 11 eyes in 11 patients with sBUT DE (symptom-positive sBUT group) and 13 eyes in 13 volunteers with BUT values ≤5 s without DE symptoms (symptom-negative sBUT group). Tear function was assessed by measuring BUT and Schirmer values. Serial measurements were made of visual acuities (using a functional visual acuity measurement system) and higher-order aberrations (using a wavefront sensor). The parameters were compared before and 1 month after diquafosol tetrasodium instillation. Any changes in symptomatology after administration were also recorded.
Results:
After diquafosol tetrasodium administration, BUT values tended to increase in the symptom-positive sBUT group (P=0.07) and significantly increased in the symptom-negative sBUT group (P<0.05). LogMAR functional, minimal, and maximal visual acuities and higher-order aberrations significantly decreased after diquafosol tetrasodium administration in the symptom-positive sBUT group (P<0.05), while there were no significant changes in these values in the symptom-negative sBUT group (P>0.05). Diquafosol tetrasodium administration provided relief of DE symptoms in 75% of patients in the symptom-positive sBUT group.
Conclusions:
Diquafosol tetrasodium appeared to improve tear film stability and visual function in sBUT DE.
