Short-term effect of eyelid-warming device on the tear film: a randomized observational comparative study

To evaluate the short-term effect of using an eyelid-warming device compared to artificial tears on the tear film parameters of dry eye subjects.

The case-control study was conducted at the Optometry Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 5 to May 15, 2021, and comprised young females with dry eyes who were randomized into intervention group A and control group B. In group A patients, an eyelidwarming device called Blephasteam was applied for 10 minutes, while artificial tears were used for group B patients. The non-invasive tear breakup time and phenol red thread tests were used at the baseline as well as 5 minutes and 60 minutes after the application. Data was analysed using SPSS 22.

Of the 38 female patients with a mean age of 21.4±1.5 years, 19(50%) were in group A with a mean age of 21.5±0.9 years, and 19(50%) were in group B with a mean age of 21.3±1.9 years. Both groups showed significant improvement in terms of stability and volume of the tear film after the application at both 5 minutes and 60 minutes (p<0.05). Intergroup comparisons indicate a significant difference at baseline NITBUT measurements (p=0.035), while the PRT score was significantly higher at 60 minutes (p < 0.05).

The short-term use of an eyelid-warming device increased the scores of tear breakup time and volume of tears in young females with dry eyes. Such devices could be used as an alternative to artificial tears.