Investigating the subjective cooling effect of eyelid cleansing gel on eyelid and ocular surface temperature

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate if the application of Blephagel, an eyelid cleansing gel, causes subjective and/or objective cooling effects by measuring ocular symptomology and temperature. MethodsTwenty-five healthy subjects underwent baseline non-invasive temperature measurements on the closed upper eyelid (centrally, nasally, and temporally) and ocular surface temperature (OST) on both eyes using an infrared camera. A standard application of Blephagel was then applied to the closed upper eyelid and eyelashes with a sterile cotton-wool to one eye selected at random. Temperature measures were then repeated on both eyes after 30–60, 120–150, and 180–210 s. At each interval, subjects rated the comfort and any cooling sensation of each eye on a 0–10 scale. ResultsAfter application of the gel, there was a significant difference in temperature at all locations on the eyelid between the test and control eyes over time (F = 9.322, p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis revealed this was significant from 30 to 60 s interval (36.3 ± 1.1 °C versus 37.2 ± 0.7 °C; p < 0.001) and the 120–150 s interval (36.8 ± 0.8 °C versus 37.2 ± 0.6 °C; p < 0.001). There was no significant variation between the OST locations over time (F = 3.350, p = 0.07). With respect to symptoms, there was a significant increase in cooling sensation in the test eye compared to the control eye over time (F = 10.438, p < 0.001), that remained throughout the experiment. ConclusionsBlephagel produces a reduction in temperature of the eyelids that is accompanied with a subjective cooling sensation.