Topical Cyclosporine A 1% for the Treatment of Chronic Follicular Conjunctivitis. Issue 4 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kolomeyer, Anton M.; Nayak, Natasha V.; Ragam, Ashwinee; Kim, Jason S.; Fang, Christina; Kim, Elliott S.; Chu, David S.
• Is Part Of: Eye & contact lens. Volume 41:Issue 4(2015:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Topical cyclosporine A -- Chronic follicular conjunctivitis -- Inflammation; Contact lenses -- Periodicals; Intraocular lenses -- Periodicals; Orthokeratology -- Periodicals; Anterior segment (Eye) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 617.7523
• DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1542-2321

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To evaluate the use of topical cyclosporine A (CSA) 1% in the treatment of chronic follicular conjunctivitis (CFC). Methods: Retrospective chart review from 2001 to 2012 identified 12 patients (22 eyes) with CFC (mean±standard deviation [SD] age, 50.2±15.4 years; 75% female; 92% white) treated with CSA. Main outcome measures included inflammation grade, visual acuity, concurrent corticosteroid (CS) therapy, effect on CS taper, and adverse effects. Results: Mean±SD follow-up time was 11.7±9.7 months. Mean±SD time from diagnosis to CSA treatment initiation was 2.4±3.2 months. Mean±SD duration of CSA treatment was 5.8±2.8 months. Four patients (33%) complained of irritation (n=2), redness (n=1), itching (n=1), and burning (n=1) but none discontinued treatment. Concurrent CSs were tapered off in all patients after a mean±SD of 5.0±2.5 weeks. Mean±SD initial vision was 0.078±0.093 logMAR, whereas vision at final examination was 0.056±0.081 logMAR ( P =0.02). Mean±SD initial inflammation grade of 1.9±1.0 was significantly reduced to final grade of 0.7±0.9 ( P =0.0002). Mean±SD time to initial inflammation control in 9 patients (75%) was 33.2±24.5 days. Two patients (17%) switched to oral CSA because of lack of inflammation control. Conclusions: Topical CSA 1% is an effective and well-tolerated therapy that decreased chronic inflammation and tapered topical CS in patients with CFC. The use of CSA in such patients warrants further investigation.