The force required to dispense drops from ocular lubricant bottles varies significantly depending on the bottle type, and this variation can affect patients’ ability to use these products, according to a study.
The study found significant variations in the force required to dispense drops depending on the bottle type. Tubes required the least force (4.28 ± 1.29 newtons [N]), while multidose preservative-free bottles needed the most (26.68 ± 8.32 N, P < 0.001). Unidose and multidose bottles also required relatively high forces (14.24 ± 4.83 N and 16.62 ± 5.21 N, respectively). Among medications, lifitegrast needed more force (17.38 ± 2.13 N) than cyclosporine 0.5% (9.16 ± 0.80 N, P < 0.024) and cyclosporine 0.9% (5.68 ± 0.40 N, P < 0.001), aligning closely with unidose lubricants (P > 0.05).
The study concludes that the squeezability of bottles used in dry eye disease management significantly varies by type and suggests that the patient’s hand and pinch strength should be considered when choosing lubricants for dry eye disease management.
Reference
Bitton E, Bouskila J. Squeezability of eye drop containers used in dry eye disease management. Clin Exp Optom. 2024:1-6. doi: 10.1080/08164622.2024.2361781. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38858843.
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