What is tear osmolarity?

How can it be measured and improved?

A low osmolarity eye drop is best. E.g. Blink Intensive tears, Hylo Fresh, Hylo Forte. Data suggests improvements in osmolarity take 2-8 weeks. (hypo-osmolar drops 4-6 times a day) , Pred Sol minims qid aiming to reduce evaporation by improving the lipid layer.  Dry eye is very common but can be complicated by many factors. Specific tests, e.g. for Lactoferrin, have been developed. Lactoferrin is a mucus-specific anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial iron-binding glycoprotein vital to tear production. By binding iron, lactoferrin prevents the pathogen from obtaining sufficient iron, which it relies upon for growth.

NOVATEARS

For Evaporative Dry Eye
& Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

• Preservative and phosphate free
For severe or chronic dry eye, For mild or moderate dry eye
• Preservative, phosphate, and water free

• No stinging, blurring, or burning

• six months use after opening

• Clinically validated with significant improvements in signs and symptoms with Evaporative Dry Eye Disease and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction patients.

VITA POS

Night time protection for dry eye
Preservative and phosphate free
• A smooth, preservative-free eye ointment containing vitamin A for all types of dry eye

• More than 300 individual applications six months use after opening

HYLO-FORTE
For severe and chronic dry eye

• Preservative -free and phosphate-free

• Can be used for six months after opening

• Compatible with all types of contact lenses.

HYLO-FRESH
For mild or moderate dry eye

• At least 300 measured drops per pack, or 150 treatments (both eyes)
• Delivered through the unique COMOD valve
multi-dose application system.

Blinking Exercises

For computer users and during reading tasks, it is wise after every 20 minutes to look 20 ‘feet’ away for 20 seconds and perform 20 blinks.

Re: Dry eye capsules such as Lacritec or Dryeye Forte
Patient dry eye symptom response was summarised by the patients being asked, “Are your symptoms better, worse, or the same? Comparing the week before you started with the week when finished this self-assessment patient questionnaire, positive efficacy results were shown in all measures across all symptoms associated with the condition of Dry Eye. In an overall measure of symptom improvement, 83.7% of all patients on the treatment reported an improvement.

The School of Optometry and Vision Science UNSW reported in 2018 on the effects of dietary supplementation with a combination of flaxseed oil, borage oil and fish oil omega -3 fatty acids on ocular comfort, including symptoms of dry eyes.
SUMMARY
This double-masked study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with a combination of flaxseed oil, borage oil and fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on ocular comfort and tear film
parameters up to 3 months after commencing daily dosing. Subjective comfort measured with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Ocular Comfort Index (OCI), Dry Eye Questionnaire – 5 (DEQ-5) and visual analogue scales improved over time with the supplement. In summary, the dry eye supplement observed improvements in subjective comfort after three months based on the criteria:

Watery eyes
Grittiness / Foreign Body Sensation
Dryness
Blurry / Fluctuating Vision
Overall Pain / Discomfort
OSDI
Mild OSDI
Moderate OSDI
Severe OSDI
Dry Eye Questionnaire
Absolute Tear
Evaporation Rate
Average Lipid Layer Thickness (nm)
Minimum Lipid Layer Thickness (nm)
Lipid Layer Grade (0-5)
Non-Invasive Tear Break-Up Time (First measurement in seconds)
Non-Invasive Tear Break-Up Time (Average in seconds)
Tear Volume (mm)
Limbal Redness (0-4)
Bulbar Redness (0-4)
Corneal Staining (0-4)
Conjunctival Staining (0-4)