The Efficacy of an Ocular Emulsion in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Evaluation of the Efficacy of an Ocular Emulsion on the Signs and Symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

The aim of this study will be to determine the efficacy of this novel, lipid-containing artificial tear on the signs and symptoms of meibomian gland disease.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Systane Balance; Drug: Optive Lubricant Eye Drops

Detailed Description

This investigation will involve approximately 90 MGD subjects, randomly assigned to either the Systane Balance treatment group or a control group using Optive™ Lubricant Eyedrops (Allergan), a low-viscosity artificial tear. Both arms will dose the drops four times per day and the treatment trial will be conducted for 6 months. The age range will be 18 years and older, with no upper age limit. Standard diagnostic tests for dry eye, as recommended by the NEI-Industry Workshop report,8 but with updated criteria in some instances, will be used to define clinical dry eye of the MGD sub-type. The three major tests will be: symptoms using a validated questionnaire (Schein), evidence of ocular surface damage, and demonstration of tear instability. The subjects will be enrolled if they consent and are confirmed as MGD subjects using the established clinical criteria used at SCCO of gland dropout Grade 1 per lower eyelid using meiboscopy,6, 9 or secretion quality Grade 1 in any of the three sectors (temporal, central, nasal) upon gland expression9, 10 using the recently developed Korb device.11 The principal outcome measure will be the tear film breakup time (TBUT), in seconds, at two hours post drop instillation. The two-hour TBUT value will be used to compare the control and test formulation at baseline and visits 3, 5 and 7. TBUT will be measured using 2.0 l of 1.0% NaFl. Exploratory outcome measures will include TBUT (seconds; change over time), corneal staining (change over time; 0 - 20 scale), symptoms (Schein and MGD-specific preliminary questionnaire score), drop comfort, Surface Regularity Index (a measure of surface disruption), lipid layer grade (1 - 5 Yokoi scale), meibum excreta quality, gland drop out and lid margin appearance all monitored as the change over time from baseline. Treatment comparisons will be made at each timepoint

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 69
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Fullerton, California, United States, 92831
      • Eye Care Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Schein symptom score (all 6 questions) of greater than 5,
• evidence of MGD changes in both eyes (i.e.,
• lower eyelid secretion quality score greater than 1.0 (0 - 3 scale) OR gland dropout score greater than 1.0 (i.e., greater than 25% of entire lower eyelid) as demonstrated by meiboscopy, and corneal staining of grade 4.0 or greater (0 - 20 scale).

Exclusion Criteria:

• contact lens wear, use of topical ocular medication other than artificial tears (use of Restasis is specifically excluded),
• unstable systemic medication use (i.e., anti-histamines, steroids, etc.), recent (within 6 months of study start) ocular trauma or surgery,
• diabetes, aqueous deficient dry eye (defined as a Schirmer I value (without anesthetic) of < 5 mm of wetting in 5 minutes in either eye), and use of punctal plugs.

-Subjects taking omega 3 fatty acid supplements for dry eye can be included so long as their intake is stable for the prior six months and they meet the inclusion criteria above. -

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Systane Balance; Artificial tear emulsion	Drug: Systane Balance; Artificial tear emulsion drop
Active Comparator: Optive Lubricant Eye Drops; Artificial tear	Drug: Optive Lubricant Eye Drops; Artificial tear eye drop; Other Names: Refresh Optive

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tear Film Breakup Time	time in seconds to observer a dark spot in the tear film	Measured 2 hours after in-office administration of a single drop of test solution

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
• Collaborators: Alcon Research
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jerry R Paugh, OD, PhD, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 21, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 22, 2010
• First Posted (Estimated): September 23, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 1, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: dry eye, MGD, tear film break up time
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Eye Diseases; Eyelid Diseases; Meibomian Gland Dysfunction; Pharmaceutical Solutions; Lubricant Eye Drops; Ophthalmic Solutions
• Other Study ID Numbers: SCCO 10-6