Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of topical cyclosporine A 0.05 for treatment of mustard gas-induced ocular surface disorders with special attention to conjunctival goblet cell density in patients with severe dry eye. METHODS: This prospective clinical study included 20 eyes of 20 patients previously exposed to mustard gas with dry eye syndrome unresponsive to artificial tears. Before and after treatment with topical cyclosporine A 0.05 twice daily for 3 months, subjects were evaluated for improvement in symptoms using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and signs by tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer test and measurement of superior bulbar conjunctival goblet cell density. Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) and the degree of corneal squamous cell metaplasia were also assessed before and after treatment. RESULTS: Before treatment, mean OSDI score, Schirmer test I value and mean TBUT were 42.8 +/- 6.1, 4.2 +/- 1.2 mm and 2.5 +/- 1.3 s, respectively. After 3 months of treatment with topical cyclosporine A, these scores reached 36.4 +/- 5.2, 5.8 +/- 1.6 mm and 4.9 +/- 2.1 s, respectively showing a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.001) in all parameters. Mean goblet cell density was 23.3 +/- 17.1/high power field (hpf) at baseline which was significantly increased to 47.7 +/- 16.1/hpf at the end of the study (P < 0.001). There was no improvement, however, in corneal conjunctivalization, LSCD and the degree of corneal squamous cell metaplasia based on impression cytology reports (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with topical cyclosporine A 0.05 in patients with severe dry eye due to mustard gas injury increases goblet cell density in the bulbar conjunctiva and improves symptoms of the disease.