Abstract

Background:Dry eye is a disorder of the tear film which occurs due to tear deficiency or
excessive tear evaporation. The present study compared preserved and preservative-free
hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-dextran-containing eyedrops.
Materials & Methods: 56 patients of dry eyes disease were divided into 2 groups of 28 each.
Group I were prescribed dextran 70, 1 mg/ml and hypromellose, 3 mg/ml hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose (HPMC) and group II 0.3 g HPMC and 0.1 g of dextran 70, with 0.01%
benzalkonium chloride (BAK). The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear
break up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining and Schirmer test were performed.
Results: The mean OSDI score at baseline was 42.6 and 39.4 and at 4 weeks was 32.7 and
28.1 in group I and II respectively, TBUT (sec) at baseline was 7.6 and7.4 and at 4 weeks
was 7.1 and 8.1 in group I and II respectively, conjunctival score at baseline was 6.78 and
7.32 and at 4 weeks was 5.30 and 5.4 in group I and II respectively, corneal score at baseline
was 1.47 and 1.24 and at 4 weeks was 0.52 and 0.41 in group I and II respectively and
schirmer test (mm) at baseline was 6.07 and 6.12 and at 4 weeks was 6.80 and 7.25 in group I
and II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Both preserved and preservative-free hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-dextrancontaining
eyedrops were effective in reducing symptoms of dry eyes disease.