The effect of tamarind seed polysaccharide containing eye drop in dry eye syndrome: Results of an interventional, comparative, clinical study

Abstract Background: The mainstay of dry eye treatment is artificial tear solutions. Contralateral eye comparison of ۲ types of artificial tears (Xiloial; tamarind seed polysaccharide-containing lubricant eye drop versus Tearlose) in managing dry eye disease was sought in this study. Methods: This study was a prospective, interventional, contralateral eye comparison of ۲ types of artificial tears used for managing dry eye disease. The study participants were categorized into mild (۱۳–۲۲ points), moderate (۲۳–۳۲ points), or severe (۳۳–۱۰۰ points) ocular surface disease according to the baseline ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire score. Schirmer I and tear film break-up time (TBUT) tests, as well as detailed slit-lamp examinations, were performed at baseline and at the end of the study. All participants received Xiloial monodose eye drops for the right eye and Tearlose eye drops for the left eye, administered as a single drop ۴ times per day. Furthermore, they were instructed to perform lid hygiene every ۱۲ hours per day for both eyes. Results: Thirty-five patients (۷۰ eyes) with a mean ± standard (SD) age of ۵۰.۲ ± ۱۳.۴ years were included, and ۱۴ (۴۰%) were men. The mean ± SD of the OSDI score was ۴۴.۲۴ ± ۲۲.۵۹ at baseline. Of the ۳۵ patients, ۱۰ (۲۸.۶%), ۵ (۱۴.۳%), and ۲۰ (۵۷.۱%) had mild, moderate, and severe ocular surface disease, respectively, according to the baseline OSDI score. Compared to baseline, the mean values of both TBUT and Schirmer I tests improved significantly in both groups (both P < ۰.۰۰۱). In comparing the final mean values between the ۲ groups, this improvement was comparable for the Schirmer I test (P = ۰.۱۷۹), but TBUT in Tearlose-instilled eyes improved significantly more than in the fellow eyes (P < ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusions: Both Xiloial and Tearlose eye drops improved tear stability and tear production after a ۲ week treatment period in eyes with dry eye disease. This improvement was comparable for tear production, but Tearlose-instilled eyes showed significantly greater improvement in tear stability. Further studies with longer follow-up and larger sample sizes could provide more reliable results as a basis for the clinical use of this TSP-containing lubricant eye drop solution in dry eye disease. Keywords: dry eye disease dysfunctional tear syndrome OSDI ocular surface disease index treatment artificial tear Xiloial Tearlose TSP tamarind seed polysaccharide