Lipiflow Treatment Alone vs. Lipiflow + Dextenza Treatment for Dry Eye Disease

This prospective, open-label, single-center, non-randomized, investigator-sponsored clinical study seeks to investigate the benefit of managing patients with DED secondary to MGD with a sustained release intracanalicular dexamethasone (0.4 mg) insert in addition to LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation compared to LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation alone. In addition, this study will evaluate the ease of Dextenza insertion and the patient preference for therapy.

After screening a given patient for inclusion and exclusion criteria, and gaining informed consent, each eye will undergo LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation on the same day. The most symptomatic eye will be selected to receive DEXTENZA® insertion on the day of the procedure (study eye), while the other eye will be assigned to a receive a sham punctum dilation (control eye). If there is no obvious symptomatic difference, the right eye will receive the intracanalicular insert. Per patient, the study period will last for approximately 12 weeks after the LipiFlow procedure, consisting of one screening visit, one treatment v4isit and 3 post-procedure follow-up visits (week 1, week 4 and week 12). At week 1, week 4 and week 12, primary and secondary endpoints will be assessed alongside standard-of-care procedures. Adjusting for enrollment period, the study will last a total of approximately 4 months.

Patients with dry eye disease Lipiflow only

Procedure: LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation

Patients with dry eye disease Lipiflow + Dextenza

Drug: Dexamethasone Intracanalicular Insert, 0.4mg with LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation

To manage patients with dry eye disease secondary to MGD

to investigate the benefit of managing patients with DED secondary to MGD with a sustained release intracanalicular dexamethasone (0.4 mg) insert in addition to LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation

Plazo: Assessed at Baseline, Week 1, Week 4 and Week 12

Meibomian gland expressibility was graded at the slit lamp using the methodology of the pivotal LipiFlow trial. Fifteen glands of the lower eyelid (5 temporal, 5 central, 5 nasal) were each graded on a 0-3 scale (0 = no secretion; 1 = inspissated/toothpaste-like secretion; 2 = cloudy liquid secretion; 3 = clear liquid secretion). Grades were summed to produce a composite Meibomian Gland Expressibility Score ranging from 0 to 45. Higher scores indicate better meibomian gland function. Values shown are the mean score at each study visit.

Plazo: Assessed at Week 12

As measured by COMTOL Survey

Plazo: Assessed at Baseline, Week 1, Week 4 and Week 12 Visit

Meibomian gland inflammation was assessed using the InflammaDry point-of-care immunoassay, which detects elevated matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels in tear fluid. Results are reported as positive or negative based on a predefined assay threshold. The outcome represents the proportion of eyes testing positive for MMP-9 at each study visit.

Plazo: Assessed at Baseline, Week 1, Week 4 and Week 12 Visit

Corneal fluorescein staining was graded on a 0-3 scale (none to heavy) in 5 corneal regions (superior, inferior, nasal, temporal, central) and summed for a corneal score (range 0-15). Conjunctival lissamine green staining was graded on the same 0-3 scale in 6 conjunctival regions (3 nasal, 3 temporal) and summed for a conjunctival score (range 0-18). Corneal and conjunctival scores were summed to produce a total Ocular Surface Staining Score ranging from 0 to 33. Higher scores indicate greater ocular surface damage (worse outcome). Values shown are the mean score at each study visit.

Plazo: Assessed at Baseline, Week 1, Week 4 and Week 12 Visit

Tear break-up time (TBUT) was measured in seconds following fluorescein instillation as the interval between a complete blink and the first appearance of tear film disruption. Higher TBUT values indicate greater tear film stability. Values shown are the mean TBUT at each study visit.

Plazo: Assessed at Baseline, Week 1, Week 4 and Week 12 Visit

Tear osmolarity was measured using a point-of-care tear osmolarity system and reported in milliosmoles per liter (mOsm/L). Higher values indicate greater tear film hyperosmolarity and ocular surface stress. Values shown are the mean tear osmolarity at each study visit.

Plazo: Assessed at Baseline, Week 1, Week 4 and Week 12 Visit

Dry eye symptoms were assessed using the Dry Eye Questionnaire-5 (DEQ-5), a validated patient-reported outcome instrument with scores ranging from 0 to 22. Higher DEQ-5 scores indicate greater severity of dry eye symptoms. The outcome represents the mean change in DEQ-5 score from baseline at each study visit.

Plazo: Assessed at Baseline, Week 1, Week 4 and Week 12 Visit

Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart and recorded as the number of letters read correctly (range 0 to 100 letters). Higher letter scores indicate better visual acuity. Values shown are the mean BCVA letter score at each study visit.

Intracanalicular Dexamethasone Used in Conjunction With LipiFlow for the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Patients With Evaporative Dry Eye Disease and Evidence of Clinically Significant Inflammation