Thermal Massager vs Artificial Tears to Treat Dry Eye
Thermal Massager vs Artificial Tears to Treat Dry Eye
Background To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a thermal massager for the treatment of dry eye syndrome.
Methods Ninety-five patients with dry eye syndrome were randomly assigned to receive either the thermal massager or artificial tears treatment. Thermal massage consisted of vibration, massage and thermotherapy and was carried out twice daily. Patients in the artificial tears group received 0.1% sodium hyaluronate solution five times daily. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test, fluorescein staining of the cornea, tear osmolarity test and adverse events were evaluated after 4 weeks.
Results OSDI showed a significant improvement in both groups and improvement was significantly greater in thermal massager group (p=0.032). BUT and fluorescein staining also indicated significant improvement. No differences were found between the two groups in measures other than the OSDI. Adverse events were mild and transient.
Conclusions Thermal massage was effective in improving dry eye syndrome both subjectively and objectively. It was safe and seems to be a useful treatment option.
Dry eye syndrome is an extremely common disease that affects millions of people worldwide; its prevalence is estimated to be as high as 5–35% in various populations. The incidence is now increasing, which may be related to changes in lifestyle and working environments, visual display terminal usage, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery and contact lens wearing. Dry eye syndrome is a multifactorial disease that affects the tears and ocular surface. Symptoms of dry eye include discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film alterations caused by tear deficiency and/or increased tear evaporation. Dry eye is accompanied by increased osmolarity of the tear film and inflammation of the ocular surface. Numerous treatments are available for the management of dry eye syndrome, including artificial tear substitutes, anti-inflammatory agents, secretagogues, punctual plugs, immunosuppressive agents and goggles.
Recent studies have suggested that thermodynamic treatment devices are effective for the treatment of obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction associated with dry eye symptoms. Greiner reported that a thermal pulsation system offers a technological advancement for the treatment of dry eye disease; however, evidence of its clinical efficacy is limited as a prospective randomised controlled trial was not carried out. We evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of a thermal massager compared with artificial tears by a prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Background To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a thermal massager for the treatment of dry eye syndrome.
Methods Ninety-five patients with dry eye syndrome were randomly assigned to receive either the thermal massager or artificial tears treatment. Thermal massage consisted of vibration, massage and thermotherapy and was carried out twice daily. Patients in the artificial tears group received 0.1% sodium hyaluronate solution five times daily. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test, fluorescein staining of the cornea, tear osmolarity test and adverse events were evaluated after 4 weeks.
Results OSDI showed a significant improvement in both groups and improvement was significantly greater in thermal massager group (p=0.032). BUT and fluorescein staining also indicated significant improvement. No differences were found between the two groups in measures other than the OSDI. Adverse events were mild and transient.
Conclusions Thermal massage was effective in improving dry eye syndrome both subjectively and objectively. It was safe and seems to be a useful treatment option.
Introduction
Dry eye syndrome is an extremely common disease that affects millions of people worldwide; its prevalence is estimated to be as high as 5–35% in various populations. The incidence is now increasing, which may be related to changes in lifestyle and working environments, visual display terminal usage, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery and contact lens wearing. Dry eye syndrome is a multifactorial disease that affects the tears and ocular surface. Symptoms of dry eye include discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film alterations caused by tear deficiency and/or increased tear evaporation. Dry eye is accompanied by increased osmolarity of the tear film and inflammation of the ocular surface. Numerous treatments are available for the management of dry eye syndrome, including artificial tear substitutes, anti-inflammatory agents, secretagogues, punctual plugs, immunosuppressive agents and goggles.
Recent studies have suggested that thermodynamic treatment devices are effective for the treatment of obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction associated with dry eye symptoms. Greiner reported that a thermal pulsation system offers a technological advancement for the treatment of dry eye disease; however, evidence of its clinical efficacy is limited as a prospective randomised controlled trial was not carried out. We evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of a thermal massager compared with artificial tears by a prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.