Efficacy of Isotonic Seawater Solution on Inflammation of the Ocular Surface in Matrix Metalloproteinase MMP-9-Positive Dry Eye Disease Patients

Purpose: Prospective study to evaluate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of isotonic seawater solution on metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels in the tears of patients with dry eye disease (DED). Methods: A total of 50 patients were included, with the following dry eye criteria in both eyes: InflammaDry? test initially positive, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score ≥ 12 and <33, tear film breakup time (TBUT) ≤ 10 seconds, Shirmer I test result ≤ 10 mm/5 minutes, corneal staining ≥ 1. Additionally, all the patients selected corresponded to a dry eye type 2 - 3 severity degree - mild and moderate - Dry Eye Workshop Study (DEWS) classification. The InflammaDry test is used to measure levels of MMP9 at the beginning and the end of the study. All patients were treated exclusively with isotonic seawater solution 5 times a day for 3 weeks. Results: The InflammaDry test was positive in 100% of the patients (n = 50) and in 100% (n = 100) of the eyes before treatment. In 14 (28%) patients the test became negative in both eyes, and in 15 (30%) it was negative in one of the eyes. In 43% (n = 43) of the positive eyes, MMP-9 became undetectable in the tear fluid following treatment with isotonic seawater. This change was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The washes with ophthalmic isotonic seawater solution have a significant impact on inflammation of the ocular surface in dry eye disease, with an ability to make MMP-9 levels negative in 43% of cases.

Leptin's concentration in tears and dry eye:a clinical observational study

AIM:To investigate the concentration of leptin in tears and its correlation with dry eye symptoms and signs.METHODS:The study enrolled individuals(n=39)responding to an advertising or dry eye patients(n=58)from the Ophthalmology Department.Tear samples were collected for leptin concentration measuring.Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI),tear meniscus height(TMH),tear break up time(TBUT),cornea fluorescein staining,Schirmer test(ST)and impression cytology(IC)were assessed.Leptin concentration in tears of dry eye patients and healthy controls,and its correlation with clinical features of dry eye disease(DED)were analyzed.RESULTS:Age,body mass index(BMI),OSDI scores and cornea fluorescein staining scores showed a negative correlation with leptin concentration in tears(r=-0.340,P=0.001;r=-0.332,P=0.001;r=-0.258,P=0.011;r=-0.424,P<0.001,respectively).ST showed positive correlation with leptin concentration in tears(r=0.206,P=0.045).No significant difference was observed in leptin concentration between dry eye patients and controls(P=0.682).Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that dry eye,OSDI,corneal fluorescein staining scores and ST correlated with leptin concentration in tears.CONCLUSION:This is the first study measuring leptin concentration in tears.The correlation between leptin concentration and DED symptoms and signs reveal that leptin level correlated with the dry eye,potentially contributing to repair of ocular damage and dry eye improvement.