<H4>PURPOSE</H4><p>To compare the recovery of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) following LASIK in patients treated with topical cyclosporine A 0.05% and patients treated with a standard postoperative regimen.</p>
<H4>METHODS</H4><p>In this single-center, open-label, retrospective study, a standard refractive workup was performed in 45 patients (85 eyes) who underwent LASIK and did not have preexisting dry eye. In 36 eyes, a standard postoperative eye drop regimen was followed, and in 49 eyes, cyclosporine A 0.05% was added to the standard regimen for 12 weeks. Uncorrected visual acuity was measured 1 week and 1 and 3 months postoperatively.</p>
<H4>RESULTS</H4><p>One week postoperatively, 22 (44.9%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 8 (22.2%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/15. Cumulatively, 36 (73.5%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 24 (66.7%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. One month postoperatively, 37 (75.5%) in the cyclosporine A group and 23 (63.9%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. Three months postoperatively, 40 (81.6%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 25 (69.4%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. Mean UCVA in the cyclosporine A group showed statistically significant improvements compared with the standard treatment group.</p>
<H4>CONCLUSIONS</H4><p>Cyclosporine A 0.05%, in the form of Restasis, may be an effective treatment for reducing the time needed for visual recovery after LASIK. Use of cyclosporine A was associated with overall better and faster recovery of UCVA. [<CITE>J Refract Surg.</CITE> 2008;24:473-476.]</p>
<h4>ABOUT THE AUTHORS</h4>
<p>From the Shiley Eye Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, Calif.</p>
<p>Supported in part by an unrestricted grant to the Department of Ophthalmology from Research to Prevent Blindness Inc.</p>
<p>The authors have no proprietary interest in the materials presented herein.</p>
<p>Correspondence: David J. Schanzlin, MD, Shiley Eye Center, University of California San Diego, 9415 Campus Point Dr, #0946, La Jolla, CA 92093-0946. Tel: 858.822.1553; Fax: 858.822.1514; E-mail: <a href="mailto:dschanzlin@ucsd.edu">dschanzlin@ucsd.edu</a></p>
<p>Received: August 17, 2006</p>
<p>Accepted: April 24, 2007</p>
<p><b>Posted online: October 15, 2007</b></p>