Comparative study of the therapeutic effects of different medications on DM-associated dry eye syndrome after vitrectomy

By
Fang Ge
Min Du
Yuan Tao
Yanjuan Sheng
Xu Wang
Xing Du
May 12, 2026
0 min

Frontiers In Medicine

Overview

This study evaluates the efficacy of 0.05% ciclosporin (CsA) eye drops compared to sodium hyaluronate (SH) eye drops in managing diabetes-related dry eye syndrome (DMDES) post-vitrectomy. Results indicate that CsA significantly improves tear film quality and stability over SH, particularly at one month postoperatively.

Background

Diabetes-related dry eye syndrome (DMDES) is a common complication among diabetic patients, leading to significant ocular discomfort and visual impairment. With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, understanding effective treatments for DMDES is crucial for improving patient outcomes. This study addresses a gap in the literature by comparing the efficacy of CsA and SH eye drops in a postoperative setting following vitrectomy.

Data Highlights

Outcome Measure	Ciclosporin Group	Sodium Hyaluronate Group
Noninvasive Breakup Time (NIBUT)	Improved	Less Improvement
Tear Meniscus Height (TMH)	Improved	Less Improvement
Schirmer I Test (SIT)	Improved	Less Improvement
Corneal Fluorescein Staining Score (CFSS)	Decreased	Less Decrease

Key Findings

Ciclosporin eye drops showed greater improvements in NIBUT, TMH, and SIT compared to sodium hyaluronate at 1 month postoperatively.
The CsA group demonstrated a decrease in CFSS, indicating less corneal epithelial damage over time.
Age and gender did not significantly affect the outcomes of either treatment group.
CsA was associated with improved tear film stability and quality in patients with DMDES after vitrectomy.
This study fills a critical gap in the comparative efficacy of CsA and SH in a diabetic postoperative context.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that 0.05% ciclosporin eye drops may be a more effective treatment option for managing DMDES in patients post-vitrectomy compared to sodium hyaluronate. Clinicians should consider incorporating CsA into postoperative care protocols for diabetic patients to enhance ocular surface health.

Conclusion

Ciclosporin eye drops demonstrate superior efficacy in improving tear film stability and reducing corneal staining in patients with diabetes-related dry eye syndrome following vitrectomy. This study supports the use of CsA as a preferred treatment option in this patient population.