Abstract
Purpose :
To assess the ability of a tear supplement that contains 3% trehalose and 0.15% sodium hyaluronate (Thealoz Duo) to manage tear film disturbance caused by exposure to an adverse dry environment of 5% relative humididty (RH), in healthy subjects.
Methods :
Nine normal healthy subjects, age 30.5 ± 4 years were enrolled in this study. A controlled environmental chamber was used to create two environmental conditions (40% RH/ 21°C and 5% RH/ 21°C). The adverse dry environment (5% RH) was utilized to affect the tear film in the healthy subjects to mimic dry eye. At 5% RH, Thealoz Duo eye drop was instilled in two different paradigms, protection and relief. At the protection visit the drop was instilled before exposure of the eye to 5% RH, while during relief visit, subjects were exposed to 5% RH for 15 minutes before the Thealoz Duo drop was instilled. A battery of tear physiology tests include NITBUT, tear evaporation, symptoms, ocular comfort index (OCI), bulbar and lid redness were carried out pre and post both paradigms.
Results :
There was a significant improvement in NITBUT, symptoms, OCI, and bulbar redness following the application of Thealoz Duo in the relief paradigm (P<0.05). In the protection mode, although some participants report the protective effect of Thealoz Duo in the symptom questionnaires, most of the tear parameters showed deterioration after exposure to 5% RH for 15 minutes with the exception of lid redness (p>0.05)
Conclusions :
Thealoz Duo significantly improved NITBUT, symptoms, OCI, and bulbar redness after eye exposure to 5% RH in the relief paradigm. It was apparent that the relief effect of Thealoz Duo was superior to its protective effect which showed its effectiveness in the relief of dry eye signs and symptoms.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.