PHILADELPHIA, Feb 10, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. medical scientists say
they've discovered a topical eye emulsion might become a cost-effective
treatment for dry eye syndrome.
Dr. Melissa Brown of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine said the
emulsion consisting of cyclosporine -- a medication used to reduce transplant
rejections or to treat arthritis and psoriasis -- could be used when the
condition doesn't respond to other therapies.
"Patients with dry eye syndrome have more difficulty reading, carrying out
professional work, using a computer, watching television and driving compared
with those without dry eyes," said Brown, who is also associated with the Center
for Value-Based Medicine, which partially funded the research. "The burden of
dry eye disease from both the prevalence and patient morbidity standpoints makes
this a sizable public health dilemma."
The researchers in their meta study assessed the comparative effectiveness and
cost-effectiveness of eye drops containing a 0.05 percent emulsion of
cyclosporine for patients whose moderate to severe dry eye syndrome didn't
respond to conventional therapy.
When compared with eye drops containing only lubricant, the cyclosporine drops
were associated with a 4.3 percent improvement in quality of life and conferred
a 7.1 percent improvement over no treatment, the scientists said.
The study is detailed in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International