SAHARA Trial: LHT therapy surpasses CsA in dry eye disease relief

The SAHARA study has demonstrated the early and sustained superiority of localized heat therapy (LHT; TearCare) compared to CsA (Restasis) in providing relief for dry eye disease (DED), according to a poster presented at ASCRS 2024. The study found that patients treated with LHT experienced rapid improvement in both symptoms and objective measures of DED, including tear break-up time, meibomian gland secretion score, and meibomian gland functionality.

Conducted as a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial, SAHARA analyzed data from 345 participants aged 22 and older, with DED.

Participants treated with LHT experienced rapid improvement as early as week 1, with sustained benefits observed throughout the 6-month study period. Measures such as tear break-up time, meibomian gland secretion score, and meibomian gland functionality exhibited significant improvement with LHT compared to CsA.

There was also a notable reduction in the severity and frequency of symptoms associated with DED among participants receiving LHT.

Reference
Echegoyen J, et al. Rapid Improvement in the Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease with Localized Heat Therapy (LHT) or Cyclosporine Ophthalmic Emulsion (CsA) (SAHARA subanalysis). Poster presented at: ASCRS 2024.