To evaluate the efficacy of pre- and post-operative use of topical 0.05% cyclosporine A (CsA) in mild dry eye patients having refractive surgery.

This randomized prospective study included 40 patients with mild dry eye syndrome who were scheduled for laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). All patients were divided into 2 groups. Patients in the CsA group used both 0.1% sodium hyaluronate (HA) and 0.05% CsA from 2 weeks before to 8 weeks after the surgery, while patients in the control group used 0.1% HA only. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear film break-up time (TF-BUT), Oxford Stain Score (OSS), and tear osmolarity were evaluated before surgery and 1, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery.

TF-BUT was significantly longer in the CsA group at 1 and 4 weeks post-operatively ( p = 0.024, p = 0.036) compared to the control group. Tear osmolarity was significantly lower in the CsA group at 1 week post-operatively ( p = 0.004) compared to the control group.

The pre- and post-operative use of topical 0.05% CsA is effective in alleviating dry eye symptom after LASIK in patients with dry eye syndrome.