Specialized Moisture Retention Eyewear for Evaporative Dry Eye

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the suitablity of commercially available moisture retention eyewear for treating evaporative dry eye.

Methods: Eleven patients with evaporative dry eyes were prescibed moisture retention eyewear for 3 months in addition to regular lubricant eye drops. Frequency and severity of dry eye symptoms, corneal fluorescein staining and tear break up time (TBUT) were evaluated at baseline and 3-month post-treatment. Main outcome measure was global symptom score (based on severity and frequency of dry eye symptoms on a visual analog scale) and secondary outcomes were changes in sectoral corneal fluorescein staining and tear break up time (TBUT) from pre-treatment level.

Results: There was a significant improvement in dry eye symptoms after using moisture retention eyewear for 3 months (p < 0.05). Corneal fluorescein staining in all five zones of the cornea in both eyes improved significantly (p < 0.05). There was no significant improvement in TBUT. Patients used ocular lubricants less frequently (p < 0.05) compared to the commencement of the study. Patients found moisture retention eyewear to be useful in relieving dry eye symptoms in windy, air-conditioned environments or when doing vision-related daily tasks.

Conclusions: This study shows that moisture retention eyewear might be a valuable adjunct in management of evaporative dry eye and this new design of commercially available eyewear could have a good acceptability rate.

• Dry eye syndrome
• evaporative dry eye
• eyewear
• moisture retention
• tear film

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article. This study was funded by Singapore National Eye Centre HREF grant. The funding organization had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.