Fluorometholone 0.1% eye drops

PurposeThis study evaluated the effects of artificial tears, vitamin A ointment and low-dose steroid drops on chronic irritation and discharge in anophthalmic patients wearing ocular prostheses. It also aimed to identify patient subgroups that may benefit from specific regimens.MethodsThis prospective, crossover randomised trial used a Williams design with 40 ocular prostheses wearing participants aged 16 years or older who experienced chronic discharge or discomfort.Each participant underwent four 2-week intervention periods: artificial tears, vitamin A ointment, low-dose steroids (fluorometholone) and no medication as a control, separated by 2-week washout periods. Visual analogue scale questionnaires assessed discharge and irritation frequency and severity. Data were analysed using linear mixed models with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons and subgroup analyses were descriptive.ResultsIn the total group, vitamin A ointment most consistently improved all outcome parameters: irritation frequency (-1.766, 95% CI (-2.857 to -0.675), pConclusionsVitamin A ointment demonstrated the most consistent benefit in anophthalmic patients wearing ocular prostheses, whereas artificial tears and low-dose steroid drops were associated with clinically relevant improvement in a subset of individual patients with chronic irritation and discharge.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC