Quantitative Ocular Surface Changes in Patients Undergoing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To describe the clinical course and evaluate treatment of ocular surface changes in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.

Methods

Multiple markers of ocular surface dryness were evaluated in 16 patients on ICI therapy. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to determine the significant change in the initial and final ocular surface indices.

Results

Fifty percent of the eyes demonstrated worsening Schirmer I scores; 29% showed an increase in lissamine green staining. During follow-up, 43% of patients experienced a decline in OSDI scores. Treatments included preservative-free artificial tears (88%), cyclosporine (25%), topical corticosteroids (31%), warm compresses (25%); punctal plugs (13%). Median follow-up time was 3.4 months (range:0–79 ); median ICI treatment duration was 7 months (range:1–40). Four patients died during the observation period.

Conclusion

A significant proportion of patients experience changes in ocular surface markers while treated with ICIs. Medical intervention can lead to stabilization of ocular surface disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Dry eye disease
• immune checkpoint inhibitor
• OSDI
• pembrolizumab
• Schirmer I

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.