A Pilot Study of the TearCare System in Adults With Dry Eye Disease

A Prospective, Single-center, Randomized, Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of the TearCare System in Adults With Dry Eye Disease TearCare Pilot Study)

This is a small, pilot study intended to determine the feasibility of this product.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the TearCare® System in adult patients with clinically significant dry eye disease (DED). This was a prospective, single-center, randomized, parallel-group, clinical trial. Subjects with DED were randomized to either a single TearCare treatment conducted at the clinic or 4 weeks of daily warm compress (WC) therapy. The TearCare procedure consisted of 12 minutes of thermal eyelid treatment immediately followed by manual expression of the meibomian glands. WC therapy consisted of once daily application of the compresses to the eyelids for 5 minutes. Subjects were followed until 6 months post-treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At Least 18 Years of age
• Reports dry eye symptoms within 3 months of the screening exam with a SPEED score >=6
• Schirmer 1 value of <10 mm in at least one eye or a Tear Breakup time <10 seconds in at least one eye
• Willing to comply with the study, procedures, and follow-up
• Willing and able to provide consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any active ocular or peri-ocular infection or inflammation
• Recurrent eye inflammation within the past 3 months
• Ocular surgery, oculoplastic surgery, ocular injury, Ocular Herpes Simplex, or Herpes Zoster
• Ocular surface abnormalities that may affect tear film distribution or treatment
• Abnormal eyelid function in either eye
• Diminished or abnormal facial, periocular, ocular or corneal sensation
• Ocular surface abnormalities such as corneal epithelial defects, ulcers, corneal dystrophies
• Systemic diseases resulting in dry eye (e.g. Sjogren's syndrome)
• Allergies to silicone tissue adhesives
• An absence or fibrosis of the Meibomian glands (e.g. ectodermal dysplasia).
• Unwillingness to abstain for the duration of the study from systemic medication known to cause ocular dryness (e.g. Accutane, antihistamines, etc.)
• Anyone who requires chronic use (i.e. for any portion of the study) of topical ophthalmic antibiotics, steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications or who has been on any of these medications within the past 30 days.
• Unwillingness to washout and remain off certain dry eye medications for the duration of the study.
• Participation in another ophthalmic clinical trial within the past 30 days
• Co-existing conditions that could interfere with the assessment of safety or efficacy of treatment (e.g. macular disease, pregnancy, nursing, etc.)