The effect of cyclosporine A (Restasis) on recovery of visual acuity following LASIK

PURPOSE: To compare the recovery of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) following LASIK in patients treated with topical cyclosporine A 0.05% and patients treated with a standard postoperative regimen. METHODS: In this single-center, open-label, retrospective study, a standard refractive workup was performed in 45 patients (85 eyes) who underwent LASIK and did not have preexisting dry eye. In 36 eyes, a standard postoperative eye drop regimen was followed, and in 49 eyes, cyclosporine A 0.05% was added to the standard regimen for 12 weeks. Uncorrected visual acuity was measured 1 week and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: One week postoperatively, 22 (44.9%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 8 (22.2%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/15. Cumulatively, 36 (73.5%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 24 (66.7%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. One month postoperatively, 37 (75.5%) in the cyclosporine A group and 23 (63.9%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. Three months postoperatively, 40 (81.6%) eyes in the cyclosporine A group and 25 (69.4%) eyes in the standard treatment group had UCVA of 20/20 or better. Mean UCVA in the cyclosporine A group showed statistically significant improvements compared with the standard treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclosporine A 0.05%, in the form of Restasis, may be an effective treatment for reducing the time needed for visual recovery after LASIK. Use of cyclosporine A was associated with overall better and faster recovery of UCVA.