A Real-World Clinical Study of First-Time User of OC-01 (Varenicline Nasal Spray- Tyrvaya) For Dry Eye Disease-The Compliance and Acceptability

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the compliance and acceptance of first time using nasal spray OC-01 (Tyrvaya) for dry eye in order to study the potential strategy to improve the usage. Method: Twenty patients with DED either having resistance to eye drops therapy or having difficulty applying eye drops were included from January 2023 to July 4, 2023. A sample of one bottle of Varenicline was given to patients to spray both nasal cavities two times a day for two weeks. Detailed instructions and possible side effects were given according to the pharmaceutical pamphlets. The second bottle was given to those patients who stopped for the first bottle for the second chance to try. Questionnaire consisted of the following questions: 1) In two weeks did you stop the treatment? If you did stop and cannot continue, what was the reason? 2) were your dry eye symptoms being less and you can accept this treatment and continue? 3) How did the second bottle work? Result: Out of 20 patients, 18 responded (90%). 56% had good response with either mild side effect or can tolerate well and experience improvement in dry eye. 44% had poor response with sneezing, cough, nasal irritation resulting in abandoning the nasal spray. The second bottle improved the discontinue rate to 17%and good response rate to 83%. There was 1.1% lost follow up. Conclusion: The first-time successful rate of using nasal spray of Tyrvaya is about 56%. The discontinuation rate was about 44%. Second bottle with further education had better successful rate. The discontinuation rate improved to 17% and the successful rate to 83%. Education and reinforcement may increase the acceptance and compliance for patients who are indicated for the medication.