To investigate the efficacy of combined treatment with 0.05% cyclosporine A and 20% umbilical cord serum eye drops for severe dry eye associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Eighteen patients with severe dry eye associated with GVHD were treated with 0.05% cyclosporine A and 20% umbilical cord serum eye drops (group 1, n = 16), 0.05% cyclosporine A eye drops (group 2, n = 10) or artificial tears only (group 3, n = 10). Tear film break up time (BUT), Schirmer test, tear clearance rate (TCR), and keratoepithelio pathy score were measured before and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment.

In group 1, significant improvement was observed in tear film BUT (from 3.25 ± 1.18 s to 6.63 ± 0.96 s, p < 0.01), TCR (from 2.38 ± 0.72 to 3.13 ± 0.72, p < 0.01) and keratoepithelio pathy score (from 6.31 ± 2.15 to 0.88 ± 0.89, p < 0.01) 6 months after treatment. Compared with group 2 and group 3, group 1 showed significant improvement in BUT (3 and 6 months after treatment) and keratoepitheliopathy score (1, 3 and 6 months after treatment).

Combined treatment with 0.05% cyclosporine A and 20% umbilical cord serum eye drops is effective for severe dry eye associated with GVHD.