METHODS: From January 2017 to July 2020, totally 52 dry eye patients(104 eyes)of Sjögren's syndrome in our hospital were enrolled and were randomly divided into two groups: 26 patients(52 eyes)in the experimental group were treated with 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops and sodium hyaluronate eye drops, while 26 patients(52 eyes)in the control group were treated with sodium hyaluronate eye drops alone. The diameter of central corneal nerve fibers, the number of nerve beads, the score of nerve tortuosity, tear film break-up time(BUT), Schirmer I test(S I t)and non-contact intraocular pressure were measured before treatment and 2, 4 and 12wk after treatment.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the results of the diameter of central corneal nerve fibers, the number of nerve beads, the score of nerve tortuosity, BUT, S I t and non-contact intraocular pressure between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05). At 2, 4 and 12wk after treatment, the BUT prolonged in the experimental group compared with the control group(P<0.05); At 12wk after treatment, the diameter of corneal nerve fibers increased, the number of nerve beads and the nerve tortuosity score decreased, the S I t increased in the experimental group compared with the control group(all P<0.05), and there were no significant difference in non-contact intraocular pressure(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Fluorometholone eye drops combined with sodium hyaluronate eye drops is safe and effective in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome related dry eye, and contribute to corneal nerve recovery.