Sodium hyaluronate in the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Abstract

The effect of sodium hyaluronate eye drops in the treatment of severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was evaluated in a double masked crossover trial, comparing the effect of a 0.1% solution, a 0.2% solution and placebo in 20 patients. We found significantly decreased rose bengal staining and increased break-up time following 0.2% treatment compared to placebo. No significant difference was found in the Schirmer values and the cornea sensitivity. The patients significantly preferred sodium hyaluronate treatment. We conclude that sodium hyaluronate eye drops seem to be a valuable new agent in the management of KCS.

A cross-linked hyaluronan gel accelerates healing of corneal epithelial abrasion and alkali burn injuries in rabbits

“…HA is the major component of the vitreous and is the primary glycosaminoglycan in the interfibrillar space of cross‐linked collagen matrix in the cornea. The viscoelastic properties of HA have long been utilized in ophthalmic surgery and for engineering vitreous replacements 6–8 . During intraocular surgeries, HA can protect the corneal endothelium and maintain the anterior chamber depth 9–11 .…”

“…The viscoelastic properties of HA have long been utilized in ophthalmic surgery and for engineering vitreous replacements. [6][7][8] During intraocular surgeries, HA can protect the corneal endothelium and maintain the anterior chamber depth. [9][10][11] Studies have shown that sodium hyaluronate eye drops can increase pre-corneal tear film stability and corneal wettability, and reduce the tear evaporation rate.…”

Clinical evaluation of the additive effect of diquafosol tetrasodium on sodium hyaluronate monotherapy in patients with dry eye syndrome: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study

“…[1][2][3][4] Current medical therapies for the management of dry eye include tear supplementation, retention, stimulation, anti-inflammatory agents, and environmental strategies. 5 A topical application of sodium hyaluronate has been shown to confer both subjective and objective improvement in patients with dry eye syndrome arising from Sjö gren's syndrome or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, [6][7][8][9] and thus, in practice, it is widely used in the treatment of these patients. Sodium hyaluronate has also been reported to provide better protection of the corneal epithelium against dryness than hydroxyethylcellulose or phosphate-buffered saline.…”

Effect of Hypotonic 0.4% Hyaluronic Acid Drops in Dry Eye Patients: A Cross-Over Study

“…Hyaluronic acid has a significantly longer residence period on the ocular surface than hydroxyl-propyl-methyl cellulose or polyvinyl alcohol. 46 Some clinical studies 26,[47][48][49] reported improvement in dry eye patients treated with sodium hyaluronate, as compared with other lubricant solutions. It has also been demonstrated that hyaluronate in anterior chamber during phacoemulsification has a pivotal role in controlling the inflammation, possibly on account of its preventing action in the formation of free radicals.…”

“…25 Sodium hyaluronate eye drops have been used in several studies for the treatment of dry eye. [26][27][28][29][30] Experimental data show that sodium hyaluronate eye drops do not alter the normal conjunctival epithelium, 31 do not interfere with the secretory processes of goblet cells, 32 and do not damage intercellular junctions. 33 Moreover, sodium hyaluronate eye drops have a longer ocular surface residence time 34,35 and increase precorneal tear film stability, 36,37 corneal wettability, and the healing time of corneal epithelium.…”