Impact of In-Office Dry Eye Therapy on Symptom Relief and Tear Film in Patients with Evaporative Dry Eye Disease in a Primary Optometry Clinic

Abstract

Evaporative dry eye disease (EDE), commonly associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), is characterized by tear film instability and visual disturbance. Conventional treatments provide temporary relief without addressing the underlying gland dysfunction. In-office dry eye therapy using controlled heat, Light Emitting Diode (LED+) with vibration has emerged as a potential treatment, though evidence from primary optometry clinics remains limited. This study evaluated the impact of in-office dry eye therapy on both subjective symptoms and objective parameters in patients with evaporative dry eye disease. This prospective pre- and post-interventional study included 49 patients diagnosed with evaporative dry eye disease. Baseline assessment included Tear Film Break-Up Time (TBUT), corneal staining, meibomian gland evaluation, and Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire (OSDI-12) scoring. All patients underwent standardized in-office dry eye therapy, with a follow-up evaluation conducted after one month. Paired t-test was used to analyze the changes in OSDI-12 scores, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze the TBUT score comparison. A statistically significant (p<0.001) reduction of the OSDI-12 score was observed following intervention. TBUT values improved significantly post-therapy (p<0.001). Corneal staining showed improvement in 75% of patients with EDE, and qualitative improvement in meibomian gland function was noted in the majority of the participants. In-office dry eye therapy was significantly associated with improved tear film stability and reduced symptom severity in patients with evaporative type of dry eye disease.