Investigating the Effect of Reducing the Signs and Symptoms of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Patients With Dry Eye Disease With Perfluorohexyloctane

ABSTRACT: Background: Perfluorohexyloctane (PFHO) acts to prevent the evaporation of the tear film. It has the potential to limit friction related issues between the eye lid margin and the ocular surface. Prior to the present work, this had not yet been evaluated. Objective: To examine the potentia...

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Main Authors: Chris Lievens, OD, MS, PhD, FNAP, FAAO, Andrew D. Pucker, OD, PhD, FAAO, Quentin Franklin, BS, Stephen M. Montaquila, OD, FAAO, Brad Giedd, OD, MS, FAAO, Gina Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO, Morgan Bromley, PhD, Zackarias Coker, MS, John Meyers, MS, Marta Vianya-Estopa, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Current Therapeutic Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011393X25000116
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author Chris Lievens, OD, MS, PhD, FNAP, FAAO
Andrew D. Pucker, OD, PhD, FAAO
Quentin Franklin, BS
Stephen M. Montaquila, OD, FAAO
Brad Giedd, OD, MS, FAAO
Gina Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO
Morgan Bromley, PhD
Zackarias Coker, MS
John Meyers, MS
Marta Vianya-Estopa, PhD
author_facet Chris Lievens, OD, MS, PhD, FNAP, FAAO
Andrew D. Pucker, OD, PhD, FAAO
Quentin Franklin, BS
Stephen M. Montaquila, OD, FAAO
Brad Giedd, OD, MS, FAAO
Gina Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO
Morgan Bromley, PhD
Zackarias Coker, MS
John Meyers, MS
Marta Vianya-Estopa, PhD
author_sort Chris Lievens, OD, MS, PhD, FNAP, FAAO
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Background: Perfluorohexyloctane (PFHO) acts to prevent the evaporation of the tear film. It has the potential to limit friction related issues between the eye lid margin and the ocular surface. Prior to the present work, this had not yet been evaluated. Objective: To examine the potential of using perfluorohexyloctane for reducing the signs and symptoms of lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE). Methods: Data were collected at 4 visits spanning 2 months. Patients who had symptomatic dry eye and a LWE score of ≥1.0 on the Korb LWE scale were recruited. Participants were randomized to PFHO 4 times a day or no treatment. Lid wiper epitheliopathy was graded at each visit with the Korb and photographic LWE (PLWE) scales. Symptoms were assessed using the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness questionnaire and visual analog scales (0–100). Results: A total of 52 participants were enrolled (mean ± SD age, 49.7 ± 15.7 years; 79% female). Right eyes in the treatment group were significantly more likely to show an improvement of ≥0.5-units in PLWE scores at 2 months than the no treatment group (P = 0.04), but no left eye differences were noted. Korb and PLWE scores were significantly better in the treatment group compared with the no treatment group starting at 2 weeks and remained so for the duration of the study (all P < 0.001). Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness scores and dry eye symptoms were significantly better in the treatment than in the no treatment group at the 2-month visit (all P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: Perfluorohexyloctane significantly reduced LWE and improved dry eye symptoms compared with no treatment, suggesting that PFHO may enhance ocular lubrication and reduce friction-related damage. Masked, randomized, trials are still needed to compare PFHO to other treatments in participants with LWE to support generalizability of results. ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT06671041.
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spelling doaj-art-441f86d2d9414da3abefe78b450cb48f2025-08-20T03:10:47ZengElsevierCurrent Therapeutic Research0011-393X2025-01-0110210078610.1016/j.curtheres.2025.100786Investigating the Effect of Reducing the Signs and Symptoms of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Patients With Dry Eye Disease With PerfluorohexyloctaneChris Lievens, OD, MS, PhD, FNAP, FAAO0Andrew D. Pucker, OD, PhD, FAAO1Quentin Franklin, BS2Stephen M. Montaquila, OD, FAAO3Brad Giedd, OD, MS, FAAO4Gina Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO5Morgan Bromley, PhD6Zackarias Coker, MS7John Meyers, MS8Marta Vianya-Estopa, PhD9Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee; Eye Research Associates, LLC, Pittsburg, Kansas; Address correspondence to: Chris Lievens, OD, MS, PhD, FNAP, FAAO, Southern College of Optometry, 1245 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104.Eminent Ophthalmic Services, LLC, Milledgeville, GeorgiaUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AlabamaEye Research Associates, LLC, Pittsburg, Kansas; West Bay Eye Associates, Warwick, Rhode IslandEye Research Associates, LLC, Pittsburg, Kansas; Maitland Vision Center, Maitland, FloridaEye Research Associates, LLC, Pittsburg, Kansas; Complete Eye Care of Medina, Minneapolis, MinnesotaSouthern College of Optometry, Memphis, TennesseeSouthern College of Optometry, Memphis, TennesseeSouthern College of Optometry, Memphis, TennesseeDepartment of Vision &amp; Hearing Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United KingdomABSTRACT: Background: Perfluorohexyloctane (PFHO) acts to prevent the evaporation of the tear film. It has the potential to limit friction related issues between the eye lid margin and the ocular surface. Prior to the present work, this had not yet been evaluated. Objective: To examine the potential of using perfluorohexyloctane for reducing the signs and symptoms of lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE). Methods: Data were collected at 4 visits spanning 2 months. Patients who had symptomatic dry eye and a LWE score of ≥1.0 on the Korb LWE scale were recruited. Participants were randomized to PFHO 4 times a day or no treatment. Lid wiper epitheliopathy was graded at each visit with the Korb and photographic LWE (PLWE) scales. Symptoms were assessed using the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness questionnaire and visual analog scales (0–100). Results: A total of 52 participants were enrolled (mean ± SD age, 49.7 ± 15.7 years; 79% female). Right eyes in the treatment group were significantly more likely to show an improvement of ≥0.5-units in PLWE scores at 2 months than the no treatment group (P = 0.04), but no left eye differences were noted. Korb and PLWE scores were significantly better in the treatment group compared with the no treatment group starting at 2 weeks and remained so for the duration of the study (all P < 0.001). Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness scores and dry eye symptoms were significantly better in the treatment than in the no treatment group at the 2-month visit (all P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: Perfluorohexyloctane significantly reduced LWE and improved dry eye symptoms compared with no treatment, suggesting that PFHO may enhance ocular lubrication and reduce friction-related damage. Masked, randomized, trials are still needed to compare PFHO to other treatments in participants with LWE to support generalizability of results. ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT06671041.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011393X25000116Dry eye diseaseLid wiper epitheliopathyLissamine greenPerfluorohexyloctaneSymptoms
spellingShingle Chris Lievens, OD, MS, PhD, FNAP, FAAO
Andrew D. Pucker, OD, PhD, FAAO
Quentin Franklin, BS
Stephen M. Montaquila, OD, FAAO
Brad Giedd, OD, MS, FAAO
Gina Wesley, OD, MS, FAAO
Morgan Bromley, PhD
Zackarias Coker, MS
John Meyers, MS
Marta Vianya-Estopa, PhD
Investigating the Effect of Reducing the Signs and Symptoms of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Patients With Dry Eye Disease With Perfluorohexyloctane
Current Therapeutic Research
Dry eye disease
Lid wiper epitheliopathy
Lissamine green
Perfluorohexyloctane
Symptoms
title Investigating the Effect of Reducing the Signs and Symptoms of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Patients With Dry Eye Disease With Perfluorohexyloctane
title_full Investigating the Effect of Reducing the Signs and Symptoms of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Patients With Dry Eye Disease With Perfluorohexyloctane
title_fullStr Investigating the Effect of Reducing the Signs and Symptoms of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Patients With Dry Eye Disease With Perfluorohexyloctane
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Effect of Reducing the Signs and Symptoms of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Patients With Dry Eye Disease With Perfluorohexyloctane
title_short Investigating the Effect of Reducing the Signs and Symptoms of Lid Wiper Epitheliopathy in Patients With Dry Eye Disease With Perfluorohexyloctane
title_sort investigating the effect of reducing the signs and symptoms of lid wiper epitheliopathy in patients with dry eye disease with perfluorohexyloctane
topic Dry eye disease
Lid wiper epitheliopathy
Lissamine green
Perfluorohexyloctane
Symptoms
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011393X25000116
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