Keratitis Sicca Medication
- Author: Mark Ventocilla, OD, FAAO; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD more...
Medication Summary
The use of topical cyclosporine A (tCSA) 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis) to treat keratoconjunctivitis sicca has proven to be an effective treatment for keratitis sicca.[5, 6]
Ophthalmic Lubricating Agents
Class Summary
Lubricating drops are used to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications. Lubricating ointments prevent complications from dry eyes. Ocular inserts reduce symptoms resulting from moderate to severe dry eye syndromes.
Artificial tears (Nu-Tears, Bion Tears, Akwa Tears, HypoTears)
Artificial tears lubricate and relieve dry eyes and eye irritation associated with deficient tear production.
Hydroxypropyl cellulose ophthalmic (Lacrisert)
Hydroxypropyl stabilizes and thickens precorneal tear film and prolongs tear film breakup time, which occurs with dry eye states.
Mucolytic agents
Class Summary
Mucolytic agents lower mucous viscosity by digesting mucoproteins. These agents are used when mucous discharge or plaques are present.
10% N-acetylcysteine drops
Ten percent N-acetylcysteine drops are used as a mucolytic agent that can be administered successfully in patients with corneal filaments secondary to extreme keratitis sicca.
Immunomodulators
Class Summary
These agents are may regulate key steps in the inflammation process.
Cyclosporine ophthalmic (Restasis)
Cyclosporine ophthalmic acts as a partial immunomodulator. It is used to relieve dry eyes caused by suppressed tear production secondary to ocular inflammation.
Lee HK, Ryu IH, Seo KY, Hong S, Kim HC, Kim EK. Topical 0.1% prednisolone lowers nerve growth factor expression in keratoconjunctivitis sicca patients. Ophthalmology. Feb 2006;113(2):198-205. [Medline].
Foulks GN. The correlation between the tear film lipid layer and dry eye disease. Surv Ophthalmol. Jul-Aug 2007;52(4):369-74. [Medline].
Fujita M, Igarashi T, Kurai T, Sakane M, Yoshino S, Takahashi H. Correlation between dry eye and rheumatoid arthritis activity. Am J Ophthalmol. Nov 2005;140(5):808-13. [Medline].
Geerling G, Tost FH. Surgical occlusion of the lacrimal drainage system. Dev Ophthalmol. 2008;41:213-29. [Medline].
Barber LD, Pflugfelder SC, Tauber J, Foulks GN. Phase III safety evaluation of cyclosporine 0.1% ophthalmic emulsion administered twice daily to dry eye disease patients for up to 3 years. Ophthalmology. Oct 2005;112(10):1790-4. [Medline].
Stonecipher K, Perry HD, Gross RH, Kerney DL. The impact of topical cyclosporine A emulsion 0.05% on the outcomes of patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Curr Med Res Opin. Jul 2005;21(7):1057-63. [Medline].

