Effect of the Bruder moist heat eye compress on contact lens discomfort in contact lens wearers: An open-label randomized clinical trial.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the Bruder Moist Heat Compress on contact lens (CL) discomfort in subjects with contact lens-related dry eye (CLDE). This was a 4-week, single-center, three-arm, randomized, open-label clinical trial in subjects diagnosed with CLDE using the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire. Fifty-one CL wearers were randomized to one of three treatment groups: application of the Bruder Compress twice a day, Bruder Compress once a day, or warm washcloth used for ten minutes twice a day without reheating. Subject diaries were monitored for compliance and collected data on daily CL comfort upon awakening and throughout the afternoon. Clinical assessments included tear film break-up time (TBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), and meibomian gland evaluation. Statistical tests included a generalized linear model and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to investigate treatment effect on comfortable wear time. Fifty-one subjects (98% female) completed the study. After treatment, subjects using a washcloth reported more uncomfortable contact lens wear time on average (mean = 5.1 ± 2.8 h) when compared with subjects who had used the Bruder Compress in Group 1 (mean = 2.8 ± 1.6 h) (p = 0.02). In the Bruder Compress groups, there was a significant reduction in the blockage of meibomian glands (p < 0.01). No significant difference in uncomfortable wear time was found between subjects using the Bruder Compress twice daily versus once daily (p = 0.48). Subjects using the Bruder Compress once daily had the highest rate of compliance at 90.2% (p < 0.01). No significant improvements were observed in TBUT (p = 0.76) or LLT (p = 0.78). The Bruder Moist Heat Compress resulted in a significant improvement in comfortable CL wear time in subjects with CLDE.

Relation Between Dietary Essential Fatty Acid Intake and Dry Eye Disease and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids with dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Postmenopausal women (n = 439) underwent a clinical evaluation and completed the Vio Food Frequency Questionnaire to estimate their dietary intake of n-3s and n-6s. Subjects were categorized into 2 binary classifications based on whether or not they had (1) DED and (2) MGD. Mean intake of dietary fatty acids was compared with 2-sample t tests. Univariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios for each condition associated with each quintile of n-3s, n-6s, and n-6:n-3 ratios. RESULTS: For DED vs non-DED, there were no significant differences in n-3 intake (1.95 ± 1.47 g vs 1.92 ± 1.24 g, P = .86), n-6 intake (15.58 ± 11.56 g vs 15.44 ± 10.61 g, P = .91), and n-6:n-3 (8.30 ± 2.57 vs 8.30 ± 2.57, P = .99). For MGD vs non-MGD, there were no significant differences in n-3 intake (1.87 ± 1.35 vs 1.96 ± 1.39, P = .61), n-6 intake (15.26 ± 11.85 vs 15.62 ± 10.93, P = .80), and n-6:n-3 (8.35 ± 2.94 vs 8.28 ± 2.42, P = .84). The odds ratios (OR) for DED did not differ significantly from 1.0 for n-3, n-6, or n-6:n-3. High n-3 consumption (OR = 0.22 [0.06-0.78]) and moderate n-6 consumption (OR = 0.37 [0.15-0.91]) were associated with a decreased frequency of MGD. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary consumption of n-3s and n-6s showed no association with DED, but high n-3 consumption and moderate n-6 consumption were protective against MGD in this large sample of postmenopausal women.