Decreased inflammatory biomarkers after using artificial tears with Aloe vera and hypromellose for dry eye.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Research has increasingly highlighted the therapeutic potential of Aloe vera and hypromellose for treating dry eye due to their healing properties and multifaceted benefits including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wetting capabilities.

BACKGROUND

During the last few years, the use of natural extracts in the form of ophthalmic and oral formulations has been proposed as an alternative to those currently available treatments for dry eye. The purpose of the current study was to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of artificial tears containing an extract of Aloe vera and hypromellose on ocular surface inflammation in dry eye patients, along with evaluating various signs and symptoms of dry eye.

METHODS

A three-month prospective, randomised, double-masked, and placebo-controlled study was performed on twenty dry eye patients (51.9 ± 8.4 years). One eye was treated with saline solution as a placebo control, while the contralateral eye was treated with artificial tears containing Aloe vera and hypromellose, randomly assigned. Concentrations of MMP-9, IL-1β, and IL-6 in tears, tear secretion, tear meniscus height, tear break-up time, and dry eye questionnaire were measured immediately before (baseline) and after (one month and three months) the topical instillation of the treatments.

RESULTS

Compared with the baseline, the saline solution showed no significant changes in any of the studied variables (p ≥ 0.05). Conversely, the artificial tears containing Aloe vera and hypromellose showed beneficial effects on concentrations of MMP-9 and IL-6 in tears, tear break-up time, and ocular symptoms of dryness and irritation after three months (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The topical instillation of artificial tears containing Aloe vera and hypromellose is presented as an effective and alternative treatment for dry eye management, especially in cases where the severity of disease is mild.