Comparison of the Effects of 0.05% and 0.1% Cyclosporine for Dry Eye Syndrome Patients after Cataract Surgery

Purpose: We compared the effects of 0.05% and 0.1% cyclosporine on dry eye symptoms following cataract surgery.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with dry eye syndrome who underwent cataract surgery. The patients were separated into 0.05% and 0.1% cyclosporine groups. Each group had been treated with their routine eye drops for 3 months after cataract surgery. We evaluated dry eye symptoms and signs using the Schirmer test, tear film breakup time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining score, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) testing of the tear film preoperatively and at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. We also compared dry eye symptoms between the groups by dividing all patients according to dry eye severity.Results: The study included 84 eyes (84 patients). The 0.05% cyclosporine group had an increase in the Schirmer test and improved corneal and conjunctival staining scores at 3 months postoperatively. The 0.1% cyclosporine group had improved corneal and conjunctival staining scores at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The OSDI and MMP-9 results indicated a significant decrease in both groups at 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. There were no significant differences in the change in dry eye symptoms after cataract surgery between the 0.05% and 0.1% cyclosporine groups. In the patients with level II dry eye syndrome, the 0.05% cyclosporine group showed a significant increase in the Schirmer test compared to the 0.1% cyclosporine group at 3 months postoperatively. The 0.1% cyclosporine group showed a significant improvement in TBUT compared to the 0.05% cyclosporine group at 3 months postoperatively.Conclusions: Both 0.05% and 0.1% cyclosporine are effective treatments for improving dry eye symptoms and ocular surface inflammation after cataract surgery. Both eye drops are considered to have similar effectiveness.