Aims/Purpose: In a randomized, double‐masked, phase 3 trial (NCT05515471), perfluorohexyloctane eye drops effectively improved signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). This post‐hoc analysis of the phase 3 trial provides efficacy and safety results by menopausal status subgroup.Methods: As previously detailed, patients with DED associated with MGD were randomly assigned 1: 1 to receive perfluorohexyloctane eye drops or 0.6% sodium chloride [NaCl]). Primary endpoints were changes from baseline in total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS) and eye dryness scores at day 57. Menopause was defined as at least 12 consecutive months without menstruation. A random effects model adjusted for center and baseline values analyzed the efficacy data.Results: In total, 94 patients were menopausal (48 on perfluorohexyloctane, 46 on NaCl) and 151 patients were premenopausal (70 on perfluorohexyloctane, 81 on NaCl). At day 57, premenopausal patients treated with perfluorohexyloctane showed greater decreases from baseline in tCFS score and eye dryness score than the NaCl group, with differences between treatment groups of ‐1.35 (95% CI: ‐2.22, ‐0.48) and ‐14.51 (95% CI: ‐20.85, ‐8.17), respectively. In menopausal patients, decreases from baseline in tCFS score and eye dryness score at day 57 were noted in the perfluorohexyloctane group, with no evidence of between‐group differences (tCFS score difference: ‐0.98, 95% CI: ‐1.98, 0.03; eye dryness score difference: ‐7.09, 95% CI: ‐15.12, 0.94). Perfluorohexyloctane led to significantly greater improvements in burning/stinging sensation, awareness of DED symptoms, frequency of dryness, and ocular surface disease index score in both subgroups. Perfluorohexyloctane were well‐tolerated with similar safety profiles across subgroups.Conclusions: Perfluorohexyloctane eye drops showed efficacy and well tolerability for DED associated with MGD in both menopausal and premenopausal patients.
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