A randomised study comparing performance and safety of Eyestil Plus® vs Vismed Multi® in moderate-to-severe dry eye syndrome patients.

Purpose: This clinical investigation compared the performance and safety of Eyestil Plus® (SIFI) and Vismed Multi® (TRB Chemedica) for reducing keratitis lesions in moderate-to-severe dry eye disease (DED) patients.

Materials and methods: This was a randomised, double-blind, multicentre investigation. 96 adults (>18 years of age) with moderate-to-severe DED received Eyestil Plus® (N = 48) or Vismed Multi® (n = 48) 6 times daily for 3 months. The primary objective clinical performance after 1 month as global corneal and conjunctival staining scores. The secondary objectives were clinical performance after 3 months, tear film stability (tear break up time (TBUT), tear production (Schirmer test), patient-reported outcomes (PROs), investigator satisfaction, and safety.

Results: 96 participants were randomised to receive the clinical investigations' treatments, 82.3% of them were female and their mean age was 65.8 years. The non-inferiority of Eyestil Plus® for moderate-to-severe DED was demonstrated at 1 month. No statistical difference was found for any of the study's objectives: change at 1 and 3 months of the global corneal and conjunctival staining score (p-value = 0.506 and 0.661, respectively), change at 1 and 3 months (p-value = 0.538 and 0.302) for TBUT test; change at 3 months for Schirmer test (p-value = 0.540). There were no changes for PROs either. Investigator satisfaction was high for both products. 16.6% of the participants experienced adverse events.

Conclusion: This clinical investigation showed the non-inferiority of Eyestil Plus® compared to Vismed Multi® regarding performance and safety in a moderate-to-severe DED population.