Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the combined effect of TheraTears® Lubricant Eye Drops, TheraTears® SteriLid Eyelid Cleanser, and TheraTears® Nutrition on dry eye signs and symptoms.
Methods:
This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind study that enrolled 33 dry eye participants who were already on a dry eye regimen that consisted of using artificial tears at least three times a week. Participants were seen at baseline and were randomized into either the treatment group or the control group. In the treatment group, participants were instructed to use the Lubricant Eye Drops 1-2x (or prn) a day, SteriLid 1-2x (or prn) a day, and Nutrition 3 capsules once a day, as per product label. Participants in the control group remained on their own treatment regimen for the remainder of the study. Each participant was followed up at 1-month (1mo), and 3-month (3mo). The ocular variables were: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT), osmolarity, vascularity, lash loss, lid edema, telangiectasia, tear film debris, number of meibomian glands blocked (#MG blocked), meibum quality, Schirmer’s test, tear film lipid layer thickness (TFLLT), meniscus height, lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE), corneal and conjunctival staining, and meibography.
Results:
25 participants completed the study. Data from the left eye only was analyzed.<br /> In the treatment group (n = 20, mean age = 42.7±13.0), participants reported having used, on average the Lubricant Eye Drop 2.4x per day, the SteriLid 1.1x per day and the Nutrition 3.0 gelcaps 1x per day. The ocular variables (baseline, 1mo, 3mo, p-value) that showed a significant difference over time were OSDI (42.8±15.9, 24.8±15.1, 24.9±17.0, p<0.01), NIBUT (2.42±0.79, 3.31±1.56, 2.97±0.95, p=0.02), lid edema (0.65±0.49, 0.50±0.51, 0.35±0.49, p=0.05), telangiectasia (2.4±1.4, 2.5±1.4, 2.1±1.3, p=0.04), meibum quality (2.35±0.75, 1.95±0.60, 1.65±0.75, p<0.01), #MG blocked (5.6±2.3, 4.2±2.6, 2.5±2.2, p<0.01), and expressibility (2.3±0.7, 1.9±0.8, 1.7±0.8, p<0.01).<br /> The control group (n = 5, mean age = 52.20±19.43) showed no statistical significant differences in any of the ocular variables during the period of the study.
Conclusions:
By switching over to a combination of TheraTears® Lubricant Eye Drops, SteriLid, and Nutrition, patients experienced significant relief in both dry eye symptoms and signs.