Evaluating the therapeutic profiles of lipid and non-lipid based dry eye supplements

Abstract

Purpose : A lack of clinical evidence on how long dry eye treatment is to be administered, before a significant improvement in signs and symptoms may be observed, has been identified in the literature. This study sought to assess the three-month therapeutic profiles of lipid-based and non-lipid-based artificial tear supplements in patients with dry eye disease.

Methods : Ninety-nine participants fulfilling the TFOS DEWS II criteria for dry eye disease (66 females, 33 males; mean±SD age, 44±16 years) were enrolled in a prospective, multi-centre, double-masked, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial. Participants were randomised to receive minimum four times daily application of lipid-based (Systane^® Complete) or non-lipid-based tear supplements (Systane^® Ultra) for three months. Dry eye symptomology, tear film parameters, and ocular surface characteristics were assessed at days 0, 30, 60 and 90 and compared using a multiplicity-adjusted mixed model analysis of variance.

Results : Baseline measurements did not differ between treatment groups (all p>0.05). Sustained reductions in OSDI, DEQ-5, and SANDE dry eye symptomology scores were observed by day 30 onwards (all p<0.05), and significant improvements in non-invasive tear film breakup time were detected by day 90 (both p<0.05) in both groups. Clinical improvements in tear film lipid layer grade were limited to the lipid-containing drop at day 90 (p=0.02). No significant changes were observed in tear meniscus height during the three-month treatment period in both groups (all p>0.05).

Conclusions : Improvements in dry eye symptomology preceded tear film stability during the three-month treatment period with both lipid-based and non-lipid-based artificial tear supplements. However, significant changes in lipid layer grade were limited to the lipid-based tear supplement.

This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.