The outcomes were measured before the beginning of the treatment (Day 0) and on Day 5 of treatment. Table 1 presents the initial findings, whether Table 2 contains the results collected on Day 5. The outcomes measured as part of the study include tear production based on Schirmer’s tear test (STT-I), intraocular pressure (IOP) and inflammation. For each recorded outcome, descriptive statistics were calculated, including mean, standard deviation, frequency, and relative frequency.
Based on the results presented in the tables, some important comparisons can be drawn. First of all, the rate of inflammation in the treatment group had decreased to 0 as a result of the 5-day treatment. The mean rate of inflammation in the treatment sample on Day 0 was 0.3 (0.2 SD), which makes for a more significant decrease than in the control sample, where there was a decrease from 0.5 (0.2 SD) to 0.3 (0.2 SD).
This means that anti-inflammatory treatment is slightly more effective in reducing inflammation than the saline solution. However, taking into account STT-I values is also necessary. In the treatment sample, there was an increase in tear production from 18.7 (SD 3.0) to 21.3 (SD 2.7), whereas, in the control sample, a decrease from 21.4 (SD 2.5) to 20.85 (SD 2.8) was recorded. This suggests that anti-inflammatory therapy promotes an increase in tear production compared to the saline solution. Lastly, with regard to IOP, the two treatment options showed similar results in mean and relative frequency.
The high value of standard deviation on Day 0 in the treatment group suggests the uneven distribution of results, whereas the findings from Day 5 show a lower dispersion. On the whole, the benefits achieved using the anti-inflammatory treatment are somewhat compensated by its negative effect on tear production.
Table 1. Findings Recorded on Day 0.
Table 2. Findings Recorded on Day 5.