The present study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of a 0.4%
carbomer gel and 1%
carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) containing
artificial tears in treatment of
dry eye patients. Sixty subjects with mean age of 45.89 years who had symptoms and signs of
dry eye were enrolled in this prospective, investigator-masked and stratified random sampling study. The subjects were divided into two parallel groups with 30 subjects (60 eyes) in each group. One group received
carbomer gel, and the other group received 1% CMC containing
artificial tears. Subjects received the drops 3 to 4 times or more per day for 3 months. At the first visit time, the precorneal residence time of these two drops was measured. The efficacy was assessed by comparing the subjective symptoms (ocular dryness,
foreign body sensation, burning sensation and
pain), and the objective test results of tears breakup time, Schirmer's test and corneal
fluorescein staining prior to the study and after the treatment. As a result, the ocular residence time of
carbomer gel was significantly longer than that of 1% CMC (P<0.001). Most of the primary subjective symptoms and objective test results were improved
after treatment in both
carbomer gel group and 1% CMC group. As to the improvement of each symptom and objective test result,
carbomer gel was more effective than 1% CMC group (P<0.01). In conclusion,
carbomer gel had longer precorneal residence time and was more effective than 1% CMC in the treatment of patients with
dry eyes.