Real-life results of switching from preserved to preservative-free artificial tears containing hyaluronate in patients with dry eye disease

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and baseline disease data

Total number of patients (N)	1,249
Age (years)
Mean ± SD	51.0±15.4
Range	6.0−96.0
Gender, n (%)
Female	766 (61.3)
Male	483 (38.7)
Preserved artificial tears
Duration (months)
Mean ± SD	15.8±12.1
Range	6.0–120.0
Daily instillations (n)
Median	4
Range	1–14
Type of preservative, n (%)
Traditional preservatives	517 (45.9)
Soft preservatives	607 (54.1)
Missing	125
Preservative, n (%)
BAK	331 (29.3)
BAK/cetrimide	4 (0.4)
Cetrimide	133 (11.7)
Stabilized chloride peroxide	6 (0.5)
Polyquaternium-1	256 (22.8)
Stabilized oxychloro complex	351 (31.0)
Thiomersal	47 (4.1)
Others	2 (0.2)
Mixed (including four BAK/cetrimide and two others)	119
OSDI
Mean ± SD	56.0±23.5
Range	6.3–100
SPK, n (%)
No	334 (27.0)
Yes	898 (73.0)
Missing	17

Abbreviations: BAK, benzalkonium chloride; OSDI, Ocular Surface Disease Index; SPK, superficial punctate keratitis.

Figure 1 Type of preservative used and corresponding OSDI scores before treatment switch to preservative-free AT.

Abbreviations: AT, artificial tear; BAK, benzalkonium chloride; OSDI, Ocular Surface Disease Index; Oxyd, Stabilized Chlorite Complex; Purtite, Stabilized Oxychloro Complex.

Figure 2 Percentage of patients with SPK at baseline according to preservatives.

Abbreviations: BAK, benzalkonium chloride; N/E, not evaluable; SPK, superficial punctate keratitis.

Figure 3 Mean OSDI score at baseline and follow-up visit.

Note: The decrease was statistically significant (P≤0.001).
Abbreviation: OSDI, Ocular Surface Disease Index.

Figure 4 Percentage distribution of OSDI severity in patients before and after treatment switch.

Abbreviation: OSDI, Ocular Surface Disease Index.

Figure 5 Percentage of patients with SPK after fluorescein staining before and after the treatment switch.

Note: The decrease was statistically significant (P≤0.001).
Abbreviation: SPK, superficial punctate keratitis.