Abstract
Perfluorohexyloctane (F6H8) eyedrops have been recently introduced in Europe as a product to treat dry eye disease, based on its ability to reduce tear film instability in Meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye disease, although its mechanism of action is still unknown. In the present pilot study, we evaluated the effects of the ocular instillation of a single drop of commercial F6H8 eyedrops in 20 healthy humans (9 women/11 men), measuring: (a) Corneal surface temperature (CST) from infrared video images; (b) tear volume using phenol red threads; (c) blinking frequency; and (d) ocular surface sensations (cold, dryness, pricking, foreign body, burning, itching, gritty, eye fatigue, watering eyes, and light-evoked discomfort sensations; scored using 10 cm Visual Analog Scales), before and 5–60 min after F6H8 or saline treatment. CST decreased and tearing and blinking frequency increased significantly after F6H8 but not after saline solution. When applied unilaterally, CST decreased only in the F6H8-treated eye. No sensations were evoked after F6H8 or saline. The corneal surface temperature reduction produced by topical F6H8 does not evoke conscious ocular sensations but is sufficient to increase the activity of corneal cold thermoreceptors, leading to an increased reflex lacrimation and blinking that may relieve dry eye condition thus reducing ocular discomfort and pain.
Highlights
The ocular surface is a unique exposed mucosa that must endure environmental conditions while maintaining its function and integrity [1]
We first studied the effects of bilateral topical instillation of a 10 μL drop of F6H8 on corneal surface temperature (CST), blinking rate and ocular surface sensations measured at different time points after treatment in 7 seven healthy young volunteers
During the last 5 years, perfluorohexyloctane has been used as an alternative treatment of Dry Eye Disease (DED), for its evaporative form due to Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) [8, 11, 13, 20]
Summary
The ocular surface is a unique exposed mucosa that must endure environmental conditions while maintaining its function and integrity [1]. Upon their activation by environmental physical and chemical changes acting on their peripheral nerve endings, trigeminal sensory neurons innervating the ocular surface trigger protective responses such as blinking and tearing [2]. Dry Eye Disease (DED), a condition that affects over 10% of people worldwide [5], is characterized by a loss of the so-called homeostasis of the tear film, that is, the disruption of the equilibrium of the chemical composition and functions of the tear film due to one or more. Artificial tears are commonly used by most DED patients [7] some of them contain preservatives that are known to produce side effects [8]
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