Efficacy of Isotonic Seawater Solution on Inflammation of the Ocular Surface in Matrix Metalloproteinase MMP-9-Positive Dry Eye Disease Patients

Purpose: Prospective study to evaluate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of isotonic\r\nseawater solution on metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels in the tears of\r\npatients with dry eye disease (DED). Methods: A total of 50 patients\r\nwere included, with the following dry eye criteria in both eyes: InflammaDry? test initially positive, ocular surface disease\r\nindex (OSDI) score ≥ 12 and Results: The InflammaDry test was\r\npositive in 100% of the patients (n = 50) and in 100% (n = 100) of the eyes\r\nbefore treatment. In 14 (28%) patients the test became negative in both eyes,\r\nand in 15 (30%) it was negative in one of the eyes. In 43% (n = 43) of the\r\npositive eyes, MMP-9 became undetectable in the tear fluid following treatment\r\nwith isotonic seawater. This change was statistically significant (p Conclusions: The washes with ophthalmic isotonic seawater\r\nsolution have a significant impact on inflammation of the ocular surface in dry\r\neye disease, with an ability to make MMP-9 levels negative in 43% of cases.