Tacrolimus and Hyaluronate Therapy Enhance Tear Film Stability in Canine Evaporative Dry Eye Disease.

Combined tacrolimus and hyaluronate provides superior tear film stability in canine EDED versus hyaluronate monotherapy.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of combined tacrolimus and hyaluronate therapy versus hyaluronate monotherapy in 54 dogs with evaporative dry eye disease (EDED). Dogs were assigned to three groups: Group 1 received 0.03% tacrolimus with 0.3% hyaluronate twice daily, Group 2 received 0.3% hyaluronate four times daily, and Group 3 received 0.3% hyaluronate twice daily. Assessments including tear film breakup time (TFBUT), Schirmer tear test, staining tests, and owner-reported symptoms were performed at baseline, Day 15, and Day 45. Group 1 demonstrated superior outcomes with TFBUT improvements of 57% by Day 15 and 93% by Day 45, plus marked reductions in ocular discharge and conjunctival hyperemia. Although Groups 2 and 3 showed improvement, changes were less pronounced. Corneal sensitivity and structural changes remained unaffected across all groups. These results demonstrate that combining tacrolimus with hyaluronate provides superior therapeutic benefits compared to hyaluronate alone, suggesting that addressing both inflammatory and tear film stability components is crucial for EDED management.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.