Efficacy of Topical Insulin Eye Drops In Dry Eye Disease

Abstract

 Objective: To seesee( ASSESS/ EVALUATE)evaluate the treatment efficacy of topical insulin eye drops in patients suffering
from dry eye disease (DED) by assessing improvement in corneal epithelialization, conjunctival hyperemia and corneal
staining assessed before and after 3 months of therapy.
Study Design and setting: Prospective analytical study, Department of Oophthalmology, Combined Military Hospital
Lahore from January-June 2025.
Methodology: A total of 390 patients with dry eye disease received topical insulin drops 1 U/ml, one drop in each eye to
be taken 6 hourly for a total duration of 3 months. Primary variables studied were improvement in epithelial defects, corneal
staining and hyperemia by comparing before and after 3 months of topical insulin therapy.
Results: Median hyperemia grade before therapy was 3.00 (1.00) before therapy and it was 1.00 (0.00) when assessed after
treatment at 3 month follow-up (p<0.001). Similarly, median corneal staining grade showed median scores of 9.00 (1.00)
before therapy and scores were 5.00 (2.00) at the 3 months follow-up after end of topical insulin treatment (p<0.001).
Corneal epithelialization defect was improved by 50% in patient with mild, moderate and severe grading score before
therapy.
Conclusion: We conclude that topical insulin can be recommended as an effective first line management option in patients
with dry eye disease improving hyperemia, corneal staining and epithelial defects.