Effect of Four Different Diagnostic Eye Drops on Tear Film Thickness

November 13, 2025 updated by: Doreen Schmidl, Medical University of Vienna

Effect of Single Instillation of Four Different Diagnostic Eye Drops on Tear Film Thickness in Healthy Subjects

The use of topical anesthesia as well as corneal vital staining with fluorescein is an inevitable part of various ophthalmological examinations and surgical treatments. However, eye drops that don't come in single dose packages are required to contain preservatives such as chlorhexidine diacetate. An increasing number of surveys proves the partly severe side effects that preservative-containing eye drops may induce. The aim of the present study therefore is to investigate the effects of four different topical diagnostic eye drops (Novain®, Minims Oxybuprocaine Hydrochloride®, Thilorbin® and Minims®) on tear film thickness in healthy subjects. Tear film thickness will be measured at baseline and at defined time points after single instillation. The course of tear film thickness during the study day will provide information about the influence on tear film stability of the four different eye drops. Healthy subjects will receive Novain®, Minims Oxybuprocaine Hydrochloride®, Thilorbin® and Minims® eye drops on 4 different study days in a randomized order. Assessment of lipid layer thickness will be performed before and at pre-specified time points after instillation as secondary outcome. Other clinical measures such as determination of tear film break up time (TFBUT), corneal sensation, and Schirmer I test will be performed. The study will be conducted in a randomized, single masked, observer blinded four-way cross-over design. Subjects will receive all four diagnostic eye drops on 4 different study days in a randomized order.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Austria
      • Vienna, Austria, 1090
        • Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men and women aged at least 18 years
  • Written informed consent prior to study-related procedures
  • Normal ophthalmic findings
  • No use of eye drops including topical lubricants in the 4 weeks before screening

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participation in a clinical trial in the 3 weeks preceding the study
  • Symptoms of a clinically relevant illness in the 3 weeks before the first study day
  • Presence or history of a severe medical condition as judged by the clinical investigator
  • Intake of parasympathomimetic or anti-psychotic drugs
  • Wearing of contact lenses
  • Dry eye syndrome (Schirmer I test ≤10mm or TFBUT <10 sec.)
  • Glaucoma in the medical history
  • Treatment with corticosteroids in the 4 weeks preceding the study
  • Topical treatment with any ophthalmic drug in the 4 weeks preceding the study
  • Ocular infection or clinically significant inflammation
  • Ocular surgery in the 3 months preceding the study
  • Sjögren's syndrome
  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome
  • History of allergic conjunctivitis
  • Pregnancy, planned pregnancy or lactating
  • Known hypersensitivity to any component of the study medication

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Oxybuprocaine MDU
Subjects will receive 30µl of oxybuprocaine preserved in multi-dose units (MDU) in both eyes after the baseline measurements on the randomized study day
Drug: Oxybuprocaine MDU
the effect of instillation of 30µl of oxybuprocaine preserved as multi-dose unit (MDU) in both eyes will be investigated
Active Comparator: Oxybuprocaine SDU
Subjects will receive 30µl of oxybuprocaine preserved in single-dose units (SDU) in both eyes after the baseline measurements on the randomized study day
Drug: Oxybuprocaine SDU
the effect of instillation of 30µl of oxybuprocaine preserved as single-dose unit (SDU) in both eyes will be investigated
Active Comparator: Fluorescein SDU
Subjects will receive 30µl of fluorescein preserved in single-dose units (SDU) in both eyes after the baseline measurements on the randomized study day
Drug: Fluorescein SDU
the effect of instillation of 30µl of fluorescein preserved as single-dose unit (SDU) in both eyes will be investigated
Active Comparator: Oxybuprocaine/fluorescein SDU
Subjects will receive 30µl of oxybuprocaine/fluorescein preserved in single-dose units (SDU) in both eyes after the baseline measurements on the randomized study day
Drug: Oxybuprocaine/fluorescein SDU
the effect of instillation of 30µl of oxybuprocaine/fluorescein preserved as single-dose unit (SDU) in both eyes will be investigated

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change of tear film thickness
Time Frame: Predose and at defined time points (10±5, 20±5, 40±5, 60±5, 120±10 and 240±10 minutes) after single instillation
Change of tear film thickness as measured with optical coherence tomography predose and at defined time points (10±5, 20±5, 40±5, 60±5, 120±10 and 240±10 minutes) after single instillation
Predose and at defined time points (10±5, 20±5, 40±5, 60±5, 120±10 and 240±10 minutes) after single instillation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Corneal Sensation
Time Frame: Predose and at defined time points (10±5, 20±5, 40±5, 60±5, 120±10 and 240±10 minutes) after single instillation
The measurement of corneal sensation predose and at defined time points (10±5, 20±5, 40±5, 60±5, 120±10 and 240±10 minutes) after single instillation using a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer
Predose and at defined time points (10±5, 20±5, 40±5, 60±5, 120±10 and 240±10 minutes) after single instillation
Tear film break up time
Time Frame: Change of tear film break up time predose 240±10 minutes after single instillation
Change of tear film break up time from baseline to 240±10 minutes after single instillation
Change of tear film break up time predose 240±10 minutes after single instillation
Schirmer 1 test
Time Frame: Baseline to 240±10 minutes after single instillation
Change of Schirmer 1 test as measured from baseline to 240±10 minutes after single instillation
Baseline to 240±10 minutes after single instillation

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Medical University of Vienna

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 10, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 28, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 28, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 13, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 13, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 17, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 17, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 13, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • OPHT-250618

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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