Environmental factors influence the effectiveness of ocular lubricants in treating dry eye disease
Environmental factors, such as air quality and seasonal weather conditions, significantly impact the effectiveness of ocular lubricants in treating dry eye disease (DED), according to a study. Patients living in cities with poor air quality and varying weather conditions may experience different levels of symptom relief from these lubricants.
The Phase 4 clinical trial included 173 participants living in urban areas of Mexico who used ocular lubricants 4 times daily for 30 days. Key metrics such as the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), noninvasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT), ocular staining, and conjunctival hyperemia were evaluated alongside environmental factors like weather and air pollution.
The following are key takeaways after 30 days of treatment:
- OSDI Score Improvement: Decreased by 14.8 points (P < 0.001).
- NIBUT Increase: Increased by 2.9 seconds (P < 0.001).
- Seasonal Variation: Patients in autumn and winter had a longer NIBUT by an extra 1.8 seconds compared to those in spring (P < 0.05).
- Impact of Environmental Conditions:
- Patients in cooler, high-humidity cities with poor air quality had higher OSDI and conjunctival stain scores.
- Patients in warmer cities with similar pollution levels had lower scores.
- Conjunctival Hyperemia: Moderate conjunctival hyperemia was associated with an increase of up to 0.8 points in corneal stain score (P < 0.010).
- Ozone Levels: Influenced changes in both OSDI and NIBUT.
The researchers concluded that addressing environmental factors could enhance DED management, especially for areas with high pollution.
Reference
Muñoz-Villegas P, García-Sánchez G, Jauregui-Franco RO, Quirarte-Justo S, Sánchez-Ríos A, Olvera-Montaño O. Influence of Environmental Factors with Clinical Signs and Symptoms in the Management of Dry Eye Disease. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024;18:2439-2451. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S480223. PMID: 39233999; PMCID: PMC11372294.
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