Ikervis

To investigate interactions between the MMP-9 immunoassay and components within eye drops, 10 μl of rhMMP-9 (200 ng/ml) was applied to the sample collector, followed by addition of 10 μl of eye drop sample. The following eye drops were used: Elazop (brinzolamide/timolol; Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), Alphagan-P (brimonidine tartrate 0.15%; Allergan, Dublin, Ireland), Isopto Carpine (pilocarpine hydrochloride 2%; Novartis), Bronuck (bromfenac sodium 0.1%; TaeJoon, Seoul, Korea), Cravit (levofloxacin 0.5%; Santen, Tokyo, Japan), Diquas (Diquafosol sodium 3%; Santen), Ikervis (cyclosporine A cationic emulsion 0.1%; Santen, Evry, France), Lotemax (loteprednol etabonate 0.5%; Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY, USA), Pazeo (olopatadine hydrochloride 0.7%; Novartis), Lastacaft (alcaftadine 0.25%; Allergan), Mydrin-P (tropicamide 0.5%/phenylephrine 0.5%; Santen), Mydriacyl (tropicamide 1%; Novartis), Cyclogyl (cyclopentolate HCl 1%; Norvatis), Isopto Atropine (atropine hydrochloride 1%; Novartis), and Refresh Tears (carboxymethylcellulose sodium 0.5%; Allergan). The test line was photographed after 10 and 20 min, the density was measured, and the results were compared with a control sample (200 ng/ml of rhMMP-9; 20 μl).

This study was performed in a randomized, observer-masked design. Both eyes of all patients included in this study were treated with preservative-free ciclosporin A 0.1% eye drops (Ikervis, Santen Pharmaceutical, Osaka, Japan) once daily in the evening for 6 months. One eye of each patient received, additionally, hydrocortisone 0.335% (Softacort, Laboratoires Thea, Clemont-Ferrand, France) eye drops three times daily for the first two weeks of treatment. The eye receiving additional hydrocortisone eye drops was determined by randomization. In addition, all patients included in this study received preservative-free Artelac complete (Bausch & Lomb GmbH, Berlin, Germany) eye drops 5 times per day, containing sodium hyaluronate, carbomer, and medium chain triglycerides.