Table 1

Study design and characteristics of randomised clinical trials included in the systematic review

Randomised Clinical Trial/referenceMaskingWashout from previous treatmentsInterventionComparatorTreatment duration, weeksTimepoint evaluationEvaluation of adverse events
Laibovitz et al (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)8Double masked, crossover5 days1% CsA twice daily+artificial tears four times dailyVehicle+artificial tears four times daily14Baseline, 1, 2, 4, 6 weeksYes
Gunduz and Ozdemir9Double maskedNot specified2% CsA in olive oil four times daily+artificial tears four times dailyVehicle+artificial tears four times daily8Baseline, 2 monthsYes
Sall et al (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)10Double masked2 weeks0.05%, 0.1%, CsA twice daily+artificial tearsVehicle+artificial tears24Baseline, 1, 3, 4, 6 monthsYes
Stevenson et al (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)11Double masked2 weeks0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4% CsA twice dailyVehicle12 (+4 weeks post treatment)Baseline, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months; 2 and 4 weeks post treatmentYes
Salib et al12Double maskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice dailyArtificial tears twice daily4 before LASIK and 12 after LASIKBaseline, 4 weeks before LASIK and 1, 4, 12 weeks after LASIKYes
Sall et al (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)13Investigator masked1 week0.05% CsA twice daily+artificial tears (Systane) and 0.05% CsA twice daily+artificial tears (Refresh)Artificial tears four times daily24Baseline, 7, 14, 28, 42 days, 4 and 6 monthsYes
Willen et al14Double maskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice dailyArtificial tears twice daily12Baseline, 3 monthsNo
Guzey et al15Not specifiedNot specified0.05% CsA twice daily+artificial tearsVehicle twice daily+artificial tears24Baseline 1, 3, 6 monthsYes
Kim et al16UnmaskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice daily0.05% Retinol palmitate four times daily or nothing12Baseline, 1, 2, 3 monthsYes
Altiparmak et al17UnmaskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice daily+artificial tearsArtificial tears four times daily24Baseline, 6 monthsNo
Baiza-Duran et al (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)18Double masked2 weeks0.05%, 0.1%, CsA twice dailyVehicle14Baseline, 16, 21, 42, 70 and 98 daysYes
Chen et al (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)19Double masked1 week0.05% CsA twice dailyVehicle twice daily8Baseline, 2, 4, 8 weeksYes
Rao (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)20Investigator maskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice dailyArtificial tears twice daily48Baseline, 4, 8, 12 monthsYes
Demiryay et al21Investigator maskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice daily+artificial tears four times dailyArtificial tears four times daily16Baseline, 1, 4 monthsYes
Rao (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)22Investigator maskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice dailyArtificial tears twice daily48Baseline, 4, 8, 12 monthsYes
Su et al23Investigator maskedNO0.05% CsA once daily0.05% CsA twice daily24Baseline, 3, 6 monthsYes
Liew et al (sponsored by pharmaceutical company)24Double maskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice daily0.0003%, 0.001%, 0.003%, 0.005% twice daily, 0.005% once daily tofacitinib, vehicle (of tofacitinib) twice daily8Baseline, 8 weeksYes
Schrell et al25UnmaskedNot specified0.05% CsA twice daily+artificial tearsArtificial tears12Baseline, 3 monthsYes
  • CsA, cyclosporin A; LASIK, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.