TearCare demonstrates efficacy in treating signs/symptoms of DED
Significant improvements in all signs and symptoms of DED within 1-week of treatment with a single TearCare procedure were demonstrated in all patients in a post-market interventional trial. In addition, 83% of patients experienced clinically meaningful symptom relief.
In this multicenter, prospective interventional trial, 58 eyes of 29 patients were treated with a single TearCare procedure. Patients were assessed at baseline and again 1-week and 1-month after treatment. Mean change from baseline in tear break-up time (TBUT), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), total Meibomian Gland Secretion Score (MGSS), and corneal/conjunctival staining were recorded.
The baseline TBUT of 3.7±1.1 seconds improved by 2.6±1.6 (70%) seconds at 1-week and by 3.1±2.2 (84%) seconds at 1-month (P < 0.0001). Mean baseline OSDI of 54.9±20.2 improved by 17.9±20.9 at 1-week and 25.8±24.3 at 1-month (p < 0.001).
Following the Miller-Plugfelder definition, 83% of patients had clinically meaningful improvement, with 66% of patients experiencing improvement in at least 1 OSDI category.
The baseline MGSS of 5.6±4.0 improved by 9.3±4.0 and 8.8±5.8 at 1-week and 1-month, respectively (P < 0.0001). Corneal and conjunctival staining improved from a mean baseline of 4.8±2.5 and 5.9±3.2, respectively, by 1.4±2.8 and 1.2±2.9.
In subgroups of patients that were stratified by severity, similar trajectories of improvement were observed. Patients with more severe gland obstruction at baseline had greater improvements in TBUT and staining compared to patients with less severe obstruction.
Reference
Karpecki P, Wirta D, Osmanovic S, et al. A Prospective, Post-Market, Multicenter Trial (CHEETAH) Suggested TearCare® System as a Safe and Effective Blink-Assisted Eyelid Device for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease. Clin Ophthalmol. 2020;14:4551-4559. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S285953. PMID: 33408457; PMCID: PMC7779309.