Study population
blurred vision, itching, pain, ’s syndrome, KCS, photophobia, dryness
DISEASE, DISEASE, EYE, KCS
Patients ≥ 18 and ≤ 65 years of age reporting to the outpatients clinics of participating sites with moderate to severe KCS as evidenced by the following measures of disease activity were eligible for the study: (1) Schirmer Tear Test (STT) value (without anaesthesia) ≤ 10 mm/5 min in at least one eye; (2) Corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score AND/OR conjunctival lissamine green staining (CLGS) score of ≥ 4 in either eye using the National Eye Institute (NEI) scale; (3) At least one ocular symptom assessed to be at moderate severity or worse from among the following: photophobia, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, soreness or pain, itching, burning, and dryness; (4) Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) ≥ 20. Patients were required to have best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.7 log MAR or better in each eye as assessed using an ETDRS chart, and normal eyelid position and closure.Exclusion criteria required patients to be free of other ocular and systemic ailments (including Sjögren’s syndrome), as well as concomitant medication, that could interfere with the study or the interpretation of its efficacy or safety results. Patients with recent eye surgery, those with punctal plugs or needing contact lenses, and those who had failed previous treatment with cyclosporine were also excluded.