ESCRS - PP11.01 - Efficacy Of An Eye Drop Containing Opiorphin In Managing Discomfort After Cataract Surgery

Purpose

The aim was to compare the efficacy of two eye drop to manage ocular discomfort following cataract surgery. This objective has been pursued through the recording of responses to the OSDI and DEQ-5 questionnaires before the intervention and 30 and 60 days after the surgery.

Secondary objectives: to assess how certain ocular parameters changed in the two patient groups undergoing cataract surgery. The parameters examined included corneal-conjunctival staining and Tear Break Up Time, which have been evaluated before the intervention and at 30 and 60 days post-surgery.

Enkephalin and substance P dosage in a subpopulation of patients: 30 patients (15 per group) selected based on the ease of tear sampling."

Setting

Patients were recruited at the clinics of the University Eye Clinic of Perugia and the Umberto I Polyclinic in Rome. To be included in the study, they had to meet the following criteria: Age over 18 years, Subjects candidates for cataract surgery, Tear Break Up Time greater than 10 seconds, Schirmer test > 5 mm, with no other ocular pathologies.

Methods

Patients have been randomized at the time of the preoperative visit (to be conducted within 60 days of surgery) into one of the two treatment groups in a 1:1 ratio. At the preoperative visit we evaluated: tear break up time, corneal staining, Shirmer test and the OSDI and DEQ-5 questionnaires. The study group received the standard therapy after surgery and the eye drop under investigation containing GlycoPro to be applied four times a day for 30 days, while the control group have undergone the standard therapy, with the addition of the eye drop containing only hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

Results

An improvement was observed in both scores of the questionnaires related to ocular surface discomfort in both groups, with a more pronounced enhancement in the study group. Additionally, the parameters of the objective examination showed improvement, with statistically significant differences noted in the Schirmer test and corneal-conjunctival staining. Enkephalin dosage showed an an increase in concentration in the tear film in the group who received the drops containing GlicoPro.

Conclusions

The use of GlycoPro drops can be of great assistance in alleviating discomfort following cataract surgery, as it is when enriched with multimolecular complexes that possess rheological properties compatible with the tear film and contains opiorphin, physiological substance with opioid-like action that increases the concentration of enkephalins. The evaluation of the role of enkephalin and substance P in the tear film after cataract surgery and in neuropathic pain could provide valuable insights for developing an integrated therapeutic approach for our patients.