Efficacy of artificial tears containing trehalose and hyaluronic acid for dry eye disease in women aged 42–54 versus ≥ 55 years

Dry eye disease (DED) is common in postmenopausal women. This study evaluated efficacy of a 3-month daily treatment with artificial tears containing trehalose and hyaluronic acid (HA) in women aged 42–54 years (mixed-hormonal status) versus ≥ 55 years (postmenopausal) and with moderate and severe DED. This was a post-hoc analysis of three clinical trials assessing the efficacy of artificial tears containing trehalose (3%) and HA (0.15%) in women with an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) ≥ 18. Patients instilled one drop of the artificial tears in each eye 3 to 6 times daily and were evaluated at baseline and after 84 ± 7 days for DED symptom severity (OSDI), hyperemia (McMonnies scale), tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival staining (Oxford and Van Bjisterveld scales), tear production (Schirmer I test), and ocular symptoms. A total of 273 women were evaluated, 61 of age 42–54 years; 212 of ≥ 55 years. DED symptoms, as measured by the OSDI, decreased significantly with the treatment in both age groups (p