Multi-Dose Eye Drop Treatment Improves Dry Eye Symptoms in Digital Device Users

A multi-dose eye drop treatment, administered 4 times per day, can improve dry eye symptoms and quality of life for individuals who use digital devices 8 hours or more per day, according to a study published in JFO Open Ophthalmology.

Researchers enrolled 30 symptomatic digital device users (83% women; median age, 25.0 years) in a masked, prospective, 2-week, 2-visit study. Study participants completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the daily activities, feelings, and work domains of the Impact of Dry Eye on Everyday Life-Quality of Life (IDEEL-QOL) questionnaire at baseline and during a follow-up visit 2 weeks after initiating treatment with the multi-dose eye drop. Individuals included in the research also reported frequency and time of drop use, frequency and type of digital device use, and evaluated their ocular comfort using a 100-point visual analog scale (VAS; 0, very uncomfortable; 100, very comfortable).

Overall, IDEEL-QOL scores for all domains and OSDI scores improved significantly at the 2-week follow-up visit compared with baseline (P <.001 for all). VAS scores at the study conclusion, which ranged from 34 to 50 depending on time of day, demonstrated a significant improvement from baseline (P <.02 for all).

A total of 80% of study participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the multi-dose eye drop treatment, the report shows. Among 46.7% of participants who habitually used artificial tears, 30% reported that the drops were better or much better than their habitual drops, compared with 13.3% of participants who preferred their habitual treatment. A majority of study individuals reported easy or very easy application and handling for the drops (93.4% and 96.7%, respectively) and 76.7% perceived the drops as being environmentally friendly.

“Although environmental and ergonomic modifications can be made to reduce the frequency and intensity of dryness symptoms with digital device use, limiting total screen time usage is an unrealistic treatment option in our increasingly digital society…,” according to the study authors. “This study provides evidence that the study product may provide [dry eye disease] symptoms improvement while also increasing their quality of life.”

Study limitations include a cohort of participants with younger age and failure to compare the multi-dose eye drop treatment with another treatment. 

Disclosure: This research was supported by Alcon. Some study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors’ disclosures.