Ryu KJ, Kim S, Kim MK, et al. - A retrospective chart review was carried out at the cornea specialty clinic of Gachon University Gil Medical Center to compare the short-term therapeutic impacts of topical corticosteroids in patients with refractory dry eye disease (DED) according to the tear matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) point-of-care positivity. The sample consisted of 137 patients (mean age 57.8± 13.4 years) who were referred from other eye clinics, complaining of irresponsive DED or acute DED flares despite routine treatment with topical cyclosporin or diquafosol. After topical corticosteroids treatment, the overall rates of subjective symptoms improvement and SANDE (Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye) reduction were 73.0% and 90.6%, respectively. In patients with refractory DED or acute DED flares, short-term topical corticosteroids had excellent therapeutic results, regardless of the tear MMP-9 level. Tear MMP-9 positivity can serve as a reliable response predictor of topical corticosteroids therapy in DED.