Diagnosis and Therapy of Dry Eye Syndrome in Ambulatory Care
The Purpose - to determine the algorithm for selecting artificial tears for tear-replacement therapy for patients with different etiopathogenesis and clinical course of the dry eye syndrome (DES) in ambulatory care. Material and methods. 60 patients were examined, divided into three groups depending on the severity of DES and based on the assessment of the severity according to the OSDI scale. The diagnosis was accorded to the results of a comprehensive examination, including biomicroscopy of the ocular surface using vital dyes (filter paper strips impregnated with sodium fluorescein and lissamine green), determination of the stability of the corneal tear film according to Norn, the tear meniscus index, as well as Schirmer tear production, evaluated the severity of dry eye syndrome according to the OSDI scale at the time of initiation of therapy and after 2 months of its use. As the drugs of choice, we used tear substitutes of low (Cationorm), medium and high viscosity (Ocutears®), as well as gel (Oftagel®) from Santen. Results. The choice of artificial tear preparation depends on the pathogenesis of DES, the severity of its clinical course and the presence of concomitant corneal and conjunctival pathology in a particular patient. For patients with severe complaints of dry eyes, manifested even in the morning, the drug of choice is Cationorm, in case if the patient is worried about complaints of dry episodes that occur later in the evening, especially after intense eye strain, ophthalmic solution Ocutears should be preferred, if any complaints of unexpressed dryness and low adherence to treatment (the patient cannot / does not want to drip drops more than 1 time per day), then you can focus on eye gel Ophtagel. Each of these drugs has its own characteristics of exposure to the ocular surface. In the absence of diagnosis, the severity of symptoms of DES can be taken as the criteria for choosing an artificial tear preparation. Conclusion. The artificial tear drug portfolio of the Japanese company Santen is designed to satisfy needs of patients with complaints of dry eyes of different etiology and degree of severity.