A Multi Center Evaluation of TearCare on Surgical Measurements Before Cataract Surgery (PRECISE)

November 5, 2026 updated by: Thomas Chester, OD, Cleveland Eye Clinic

A Multi Center, Peri-Cataract Evaluation of TearCare With Expression on Ocular Biometry and Surgical Measurements

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether TearCare treatment stabilizes corneal measurements sufficiently to determine when cataract biometry can be considered reliable.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Dry eye disease (DED), particularly meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-driven DED, is highly prevalent in the cataract-age population and significantly impacts the accuracy and repeatability of pre-operative corneal measurements. Instability of the tear film may result in variability in keratometry, corneal topography, higher order aberrations (HOA), and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations.

The TearCare System is an in-oAice therapeutic system designed to treat MGD through localized thermal eyelid therapy followed by gland expression cleared. Improving tear film stability may enhance corneal measurement reliability and help determine the appropriate timing for cataract surgery planning.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

36

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Largo, Florida, United States, 33770
        • Not yet recruiting
        • The Eye Institute of West Florida
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Neel R Desai, MD
    • Ohio
      • Brecksville, Ohio, United States, 44141
        • Recruiting
        • Cleveland Eye Clinic
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Thomas Chester, OD
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects will be recruited from PIs clinic patients who are interested in participating

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age 50-75 years
  2. Diagnosis of MGD and DED
  3. OSDI score 23-79
  4. TBUT > 1 second and ≤ 7 seconds
  5. MGSS <12 in both eyes
  6. ≥15 expressible meibomian glands
  7. Candidate for cataract surgery planning (ie. Phakic)

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Use of:

    1. Cyclosporine, Xiidra, or serum tears within 30 days prior to Screening;
    2. Antihistamines (oral or topical) within 7 days prior to Screening;
    3. Oral tetracyclines or azithromycin within 30 days prior to Screening;
    4. Topical ophthalmic antibiotics, anti-glaucoma medications, steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications within 30 days prior to Screening
    5. Isotretinoin (e.g. Accutane) at any time.

  2. Any of the following dry eye treatments:

    1. OAice-based dry eye treatment (e.g. IPL, TearCare, thermal pulsation [LipiFlow], iLuxetc.) within 12 months prior to Screening either as part of routine care or clinical investigation;
    2. Planned or recent surgical procedures to the eye or eyelid (90 days prior to Screening);
    3. Meibomian gland expression within 6 months prior to Screening;
    4. Blephex or debridement within 3 months prior TC-2026-TearCare, V2, 15JUN2026 Page 10 of 26 to Screening;
    5. Punctal occlusion (including collagen, e.g. Soft Plug, UltraPlug, or crosslinked hyaluronic acid, e.g. Lacrifill) or punctal plugs within 15 days of the Screening visit
    6. Use of tear neurostimulators (i.e., True Tear, iTear100, Tyrvaya) within 2 weeks of the baseline visit. (Subjects must refrain from using tear neurostimulators for the duration of the study)
    7. Any history of meibomian gland probing.

  3. History of eyelid, conjunctiva, or corneal surgery (including refractive surgery) within 12 months prior to Screening.

  4. Any history of chalazion surgery, surgery on the tarsal conjunctiva, radial keratotomy (RK), complicated blepharoplasty, lid reconstruction, or significant complications post-refractive surgery.

  5. Contact lens use within 2 weeks of the Procedure visit. Subjects presenting at the Screening visit using contact lenses must agree to discontinue use for a full 2 weeks (14 days) prior to the Procedure Visit.

  6. Active hordeolum, stye, or chalazion at the time of the Screening visit

  7. History of Herpes Simplex or Herpes Zoster of the eye or eyelid.

  8. Any active, clinically significant ocular or peri-ocular infection, inflammation, or irritation based on Investigator's judgement.

  9. Recurrent clinically significant eye inflammation, other than dry eye, within 3 months prior to screening based on Investigator's judgement.

  10. Clinically significant anterior blepharitis. In addition, collarettes or flakes of more than one quarter of the eyelid are excluded.

  11. Clinically significant eyelid abnormalities in either eye (e.g. entropion/ectropion, blepharospasm, aponeurotic ptosis, lagophthalmos, distichiasis, trichiasis).

  12. Clinically significant dermatologic or cutaneous disease of the eyelid or periocular area based on Investigator's judgement.

  13. In the clinical judgement of the Investigator, meibomian glands have significant capping, atrophy, or are unable to be expressed, digitally or with a cotton swab. TC-2026-TearCare, V2, 15JUN2026 Page 11 of 26

  14. Corneal surface abnormalities such as corneal epithelial defects (other than punctate staining), ulcers, corneal epithelial dystrophies, keratoconus, and ectatic disease of the cornea

  15. Any active, clinically significant allergic, vernal, or giant papillary conjunctivitis. 16. Ocular trauma within 3 months prior to Screening.

17. Known history of diminished or abnormal facial, periocular, ocular or corneal sensation 18. Systemic diseases, in the Investigator's medical judgement, resulting in dry eye (e.g. autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Graves' disease, sarcoidosis, etc.) 19. Subject is currently using Retin A /Retin A derivatives. 20. Subject has permanent eyeliner/lid tattoos, eyelash extensions or wears false eyelashes.

21. Subject is currently using Latisse, Lash Boost or any other type of eyelash growth serum. Prostaglandin analog products such as Latisse should not be used within 30 days of the Screening visit.

22. Temporary false eyelashes, lash extensions, or any other type of false eyelash within 15 days of the Screening Visit.

23. Allergies to silicone tissue adhesives, acrylates and/or copper. 24. Subject has a pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD). 25. Co-existing condition, either ocular or non-ocular that, in the judgement of the Investigator could aAect the safety or eAectiveness of treatment or the compliance of the subject to the protocol.

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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

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Subjects with Dry Eye Syndrome, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Cataracts

Patients who would likely benefit from having TearCare done before having cataract surgery.
Device: Manual expression of meibomian glands after thermal eyelid therapy

In this study the TearCare procedure and system is being used to provide thermal eyelid therapy before manual expression by the PI.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To determine the mean change and stability in IOL predicted power calculation using: Barrett Universal II, Kane Formula and Hill-RBF
Time Frame: 8 weeks from enrollment.

Stability is defined as less than or equal to 0.25D difference between post-TearCare visits at 2, 4 or 6 weeks.
8 weeks from enrollment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean change/stability in Keratomentry (Tmax) from baseline and at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks
Time Frame: 8 weeks from enrollment

Stability is defined as less than or equal to 0.25D between visits
8 weeks from enrollment
Mean change/stability in Total Corneal Refractivew Power (PENTACAM)
Time Frame: 8 weeks from enrollment

Comparison of objective measurement between visits.
8 weeks from enrollment
Mean change in: SPEED score, OSDI score, Corneal staining (Oxford Scale), TBUT and HOA (central 4mm zone)
Time Frame: 8 weeks from enrollment

Comparison of subjective and objective measurements between visits.
8 weeks from enrollment
Percentage of patients demonstrating improvement in SPEED and OSDI
Time Frame: 8 weeks from enrollment

How much improvement in dry eye symptoms are people feeling, subjectively
8 weeks from enrollment
Determination of earliest timepoint at which corneal and IOL calculations stabilize
Time Frame: 8 weeks from enrollment

Determination of when it is possible to see stabilization of cornea and calculations between visits.
8 weeks from enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Cleveland Eye Clinic

Collaborators

Sight Sciences, Inc.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Thomas Chester, OD, Cleveland Eye Clinic

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)

September 22, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

November 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 5, 2026

Last Verified

November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • TC-2026-TearCare

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

All of the enpoints of the study are looking only at mean/average for all points that are being analysed, there shouldn't be a need to share individual participant data.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

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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