The Effect of Artificial Tear Preparations with Three Different Ingredients on Contrast Sensitivity in Patients with Dry Eye Syndrome

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Artificial Tear Preparations (ATP) with three different ingredients on contrast sensitivity in patients with dry eye syndrome. Contrast sensitivity measurements were obtained before and ۵, ۱۵, ۳۰, ۶۰, and ۹۰ minutes after administering three different ATPs, containing dextran ۷۰, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (ATP-۱), polyvinyl alcohol-povidone (ATP-۲) and carbomer (ATP-۳) to one eye of ۲۰ patients with dry eye syndrome, who had been divided to three groups. Contrast sensitivity measurements were obtained at ۱.۵, ۳, ۶, ۱۲, and ۱۸ spatial frequencies (cpd). Compared with the baseline measurements, ATP-۱ provided a significant increase of ۱.۵ and ۳ cpd at the ۱۵th minute, ۱۲ cpd at the ۶۰th minute, and ۱۸ cpd at the ۳۰th minute, ATP-۲ significantly increased contrast sensitivity compared with the baseline at the ۱۵th, ۳۰th, ۶۰th, and ۹۰th minute measurements, recorded as ۱.۵, ۳, ۱۲, and ۱۸ cpd, and ATP-۳ provided significant increases of ۱۸ cpd at ۶۰th and ۹۰th minute measurements compared with the baseline. In conclusion, while  ATP-۲ increased the majority of contrast sensitivity measurements both at early, mid, and late terms, the ATP-۱ and ATP-۳ were found to be effective on mid-term and late-term contrast sensitivity measurements, respectively.Â