Topical cyclosporine a 1% for the treatment of chronic ocular surface inflammation

To evaluate the use of topical cyclosporine A (CsA) 1% emulsion in the treatment of chronic ocular surface inflammation (OSI).

We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with various forms of OSI treated with topical CsA 1% from 2001 to 2012.

Twenty-nine patients (52 eyes) with various forms of OSI, including epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (n=14), chronic follicular conjunctivitis (n=12), Thygeson superficial punctate keratopathy (n=2), and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (n=1), were included. Twenty-seven patients had inflammation refractory to prior therapies. Twenty-four patients received concurrent medications with CsA 1%. Twenty-three of 24 patients on concurrent corticosteroids (CS) were able to taper their use while receiving CsA 1%. Thirteen patients experienced ocular discomfort with CsA 1%; one patient discontinued therapy all together as a result of these side effects; another switched to CsA 0.5% with improvement of adverse symptoms. Inflammation was controlled in 22 (92%) of the 24 patients who received CsA 1% for at least 2 months in duration.

Topical CsA 1% helps to control inflammation and spares CS use in patients with chronic OSI.