Evaluation Of The Performance Of An St-Lysyal-Containing Ocular Surface Modulator In Treating Patients With Dry Eye Disease.

To evaluate the effect of an ocular surface modulator containing a supramolecular aggregate, ST-LysYal (ST-LYS), in patients with dry eye disease in a randomized, double-masked pilot study.

Ocular surface and Dry Eye Center, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Ospedale L. Sacco-University of Milan, Italy

Patients with dry eye disease were divided in study group (n=15) using t.i.d. ST-LYS containing eye drops (Relys collirio, Sildeha, Switzerland), and control group (n=15) using a combination of hyaluronic acid and tamarind seed polysaccharide (Xiloial Zero collirio, Polifarma, Italy) with the same posology. Treatment outcomes were assessed by SANDE questionnaire, slit lamp examination, tear BUT, corneal and conjunctival staining by fluorescein, at baseline, day 30 and 60. 

Severity of symptoms, tear BUT, and corneal staining were significantly improved in ST-LYS group at day 60, while no changes were recorded in the control group compared to baseline. Not significant changes were observed in both groups in frequency of symptoms and conjunctival staining. None of the treated eyes showed increase in IOP during treatment.

Ocular surface modulators are a new category of artificial tears based on their mechanism of action that re-equilibrate the tear film and provide ocular surface epithelial cells improvement by an active interaction and modulation of inflammation. The results of this pilot study show the efficacy of ST-LYS in improving symptoms and corneal epithelial cells alteration in patients with dry eye, opening new scenarios for the treatment of this chronic and important disease.