J Korean Med Sci.  2009 Aug;24(4):701-707. 10.3346/jkms.2009.24.4.701.

Preliminary Effects of Oral Uridine on the Ocular Surface in Dry Eye Patients

• Chang KC
• Oh JY
• In YS
• Kim MK
• Shin KC
• Wee WR
• Lee JH
• Park MG

• KMID: 1779207
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2009.24.4.701

Abstract

We designed a randomized, double blinded, 3-months controlled prospective clinical study to investigate effects of oral uridine on the ocular surface in dry eye patients. Twenty-seven patients who diagnosed as dry eye with lower than 5 mm of wetting in the Schirmer strip, with corneal epithelial erosion and who completely followed-up till 3 months were enrolled. Corneal-conjunctival fluorescein staining, non-anesthetic Schirmer test, impression cytology, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) were evaluated in the experimental and placebo groups at the baseline, 1 and 3 months after start of medication in a double blinded manner. Fluorescein stain score of the cornea was markedly decreased in oral uridine group compared to the placebo group at 3 months after medication (P=0.032, Mann-Whitney U test). The Schirmer wetting score for the oral uridine group was significantly increased (P=0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test) at 3 months and its difference between two groups was statistically significant (P=0.030, Mann-Whitney U test). OSDI scores were significantly decreased at 1 and 3 months in treatment group. Oral uridine is effective in treatment of dry eyes.

Keyword

Cornea; Dry Eye Syndromes; Uridine; OSDI

MeSH Terms

Administration, Oral
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Conjunctiva/pathology
Cornea/pathology
Double-Blind Method
Dry Eye Syndromes/*drug therapy
Female
Fluorescent Dyes/pharmacology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Severity of Illness Index
Uridine/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use