US researchers reported that switching patients with dry eye disease (DED) inadequately controlled on cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% to cyclosporine ophthalmic solution 0.09% improved both signs and symptoms over 12 weeks in a phase 4 open-label study.

Writing in Clinical Ophthalmology, corresponding author Dr Josh Johnston and colleagues said 124 adults with DED of at least three months’ duration received one drop of cyclosporine 0.09% in each eye twice daily for 12 weeks. Mean age was 65.6 years. The primary endpoints were: change from baseline in total corneal fluorescein staining and modified Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye scores at week 12.

Both primary measures improved significantly by week four and remained significantly improved at weeks eight and 12. By week 12, investigators also found significant improvements in total conjunctival staining, central corneal fluorescein staining, Schirmer test score and frequency of artificial tear use. Most reported adverse events were mild and nearly 70% of patients said they preferred cyclosporine 0.09% to their previous 0.05% treatment, said researchers.

The authors said the findings suggest that changing formulation, rather than simply persisting with the lower-concentration emulsion, may offer better disease control for some patients.

The study was funded by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, with several authors reporting financial relationships.