Clinical evaluation of tear substitute utility after anti-VEGF intravitreal injection.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of a polyethylene glycol 400 - propylene glycol - hydroxypropyl guar - hyaluronic acid eye drops in relieving the symptoms of dry eye syndrome after anti-VEGF intravitreal injection.

Methods: In this randomized, parallel-group study, patients were randomized to receive standard therapy alone or study eye drops plus standard therapy. Patients enrolled were older than 50 with exudative age-related macular degeneration, who have never had intravitreal injections, and without severe dry eye condition or severe ocular or systemic conditions. Patients had baseline preoperative evaluation (V0), and successively after 15 (V1) and 30 (V2) days. At VO and V1 T-BUT, Schirmer's test, fluorescein staining, DEQ5 and OSDI questionnaires were performed and at V2 (30) the OSDI questionnaire was administered.

Results: 80 patients were included in the study, of them 40 received standard therapy plus study eye drops. DEQ5 questionnaire showed an increase in the control group between the values at V0 and V1, while in the study group a decrease was observed. No changes in T-BUT, Schirmer, and fluorescein staining values between V0 and V1 were observed in both groups. OSDI data in the control group showed no statistically significant differences, while in the study group they showed a statistically significant difference.

Conclusions: In our study patients undergoing for the first time intravitreal treatment presented dry eye symptoms in the postoperative period: in this group of patients the use of a tears substitute reduces postoperative ocular discomfort.