Abstract
Purpose :
Visual function is impaired in Dry Eye Disease patients (DED). This manifests as an inability to maintain best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) to read, and perform other visual tasks, due to loss of tear film homeostasis. Artificial tears aim to relieve ocular discomfort and restore tear film stability. These therapies may also be clinically effective in maintaining or prolonging BCVA. This study evaluated whether maintenance of BCVA is prolonged in DED subjects treated with preservative-free (PF) artificial tears containing sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid.
Methods :
An open-label single-arm, one-day study enrolled thirty DED subjects, assessed by corneal fluorescein staining ≥4 (Ora Calibra™) and TBUT <5 seconds (s). Subjects were dosed bilaterally with one drop of lubricant containing polyethylene glycol-400/propylene glycol with hydroxypropyl guar (HPGuar) and sodium hyaluronate (HA). Subjects performed the Interblink Visual Acuity Decay Test (IVAD) in each eye pre-dose, and 5-, 15-, 45- and 90-minute post-dose. IVAD is a novel standardized diagnostic test, measuring maintenance of BCVA. An algorithm evaluates levels of visual acuity degradation between the interblink interval and provides a test score. Higher score indicates a longer period of maintained BCVA.
Results :
One eye per patient was included in the analysis (n=30). All post-dose timepoints were statistically significantly greater than baseline (p=<0.05). Greatest change from baseline was shown at 5-minutes post-dose where Maintenance of BCVA saw an almost twofold increase, which was strongly statistically significant (Pre-dose 11.1s, 5-min 20.3s, p=0.0096). Mean change in maintenance of BCVA at 15-, 45- and 90- minute timepoints were similar with a mean increase of >4.7s across the time timepoints. No adverse events occurred.
Conclusions :
Ocular lubricant with HPGuar and HA immediately improved functional visual acuity, sustained through 90-mins, demonstrated by the IVAD test. DED patients may benefit from prolonged maintenance of BCVA when taking artificial tears containing the two polymers, HPGuar and HA.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.