The first results of treatment of "dry eye" syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Borisov D.A., Dautov Z.A., Shostak M.S., Samigullina R.R.

North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, Saint-Petersburg

Aim: optimization of the algorithm of the treatment of “dry eye” syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients and methods: 29 patients (58 eyes) aged from 50 to 65 years with a proven diagnosis of DES of mild and moderate severity participated in the study while receiving the treatment at the Rheumatology Department of the North-West State Medical University n.a. I.I. Mechnikov in connection with rheumatoid arthritis (disease activity score - DAS28 <3.2). Patients were divided into groups: the first group included 16 people (32 eyes) who instilled Stilavit® 3 times a day for 3 months. This group was split into 2 subgroups: 8 patients (16 eyes) with mild form of DES and 8 patients (16 eyes) with moderate form. The second group included 13 people (26 eyes); these patients instilled Eyestill 3 times per day for 3 months. This group was also split into subgroups: with mild form of DES – 7 patients (14 eyes) and moderate form – 6 patients (12 eyes). Examination of the patients was conducted on the day of the first visit and on the 90th day of the study.
Results. According to the changes in the osmolality of the tear film and the state of the cornea with the use of vital dyes, there was a positive dynamics in the treatment of mild and moderate DES, which was higher with the use of Stillavit®, compared with Aistil. The effectiveness of both drugs promoted a decrease in the reflectivity of the superficial layers of the corneal stroma, and reduced the osmolarity of the tear film.
Conclusions. High effectiveness of Stillavit® in the treatment of “dry eye” syndrome, of mild and moderate severity, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis allows to recommend it as a drug of choice, which extends the list of the drugs for practical healthcare.

Key words: rheumatoid arthritis, dry eye syndrome, cornea xerosis, tear film osmolarity, tear substitutes, Stillavit ®, Eyestill.
For citation: Borisov D.A., Dautova Z.A., Shostak M.S., Samigullina R.R. The first results of treatment of "dry eye" syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis // RMJ. Clinical ophthalmology. 2017. № 2. P. 95–99.