LONG-TERM EFFECT OF HYPEROSMOLAR EYE DROPS ON FUCHS´ ENDOTHELIAL DYSTROPHY

Published 2023 - 27th ESCRS Winter Meeting

Reference: O60 | Type: Free Paper Submission | DOI: 10.82333/73ja-vh93

Authors: Gonçalo Cavaco Tardão* ¹ , Sandra Barros ¹ , Tomás Loureiro ¹ , Pedro Carreira ¹ , Filipe Moraes ¹ , Rita Carreira ¹ , Paul Campos ¹ , Inês Machado ¹ , Ana Cardoso ¹ , Nuno Campos ¹

¹Hospital Garcia de Orta,Almada,Portugal

Purpose

To assess the long-term effect of hyperosmolar eyedrops in patients with corneal edema secondary to Fuchs´ endothelial dystrophy (FED) considering visual function, patient-reported visual disability, and corneal morphological parameters. Adverse events were assessed.

Setting

Single-centered prospective study, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal

Methods

Patients diagnosed with FED and signs of corneal edema in slit-lamp examination were included. Exclusion criteria included prior corneal surgery or other corneal disease. Participants were evaluated at baseline and after two weeks of hyperosmolar eyedrops 4id, at the same period, in early morning. Visual function evaluation included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity using the CVS-1000 Standardized Contrast Sensitivity Testing Instrument. Subjective visual function was assessed using the Visual Function and Corneal Health Status (V-FUCHS). Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam HR, Oculus Wetzlar, Germany) was used to study differences in corneal topographic, tomographic, densitometric and aberrometric parameters. One eye of each patient was randomly selected for statistical purposes and variables were compared between baseline and after treatment using the Wilcoxon test for paired samples. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 38 eyes were included. There was a statistically significant improvement in BCVA (mean 0.39 vs 0.43, p-value=0.01) and no differences regarding contrast sensitivity (9,33 vs 10.27, p-value=0.07). Patient-perceived visual disability only improved in 2 participants (5%). Overall, there was no significant change in corneal morphological parameters, especially in anterior astigmatism, central corneal thickness, anterior and posterior corneal backscatter and higher order aberrations. Adverse events were reported by 37% of patients.

Conclusion

Continuous instillation of hyperosmolar eyedrops was not associated neither with a decrease of corneal edema nor with a patient-perceived visual function improvement in FED. These results do not support their routine use on corneal edema in FED.