Evaluation of combined Eyepeace and Eye Nutrients study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11797545 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11797545 |
| Protocol serial number | 18/CER/EPEN1 |
| Sponsor | Cathedral Eye Research |
| Funder | Cathedral Eye Research |
- Submission date
- 09/02/2018
- Registration date
- 14/02/2018
- Last edited
- 13/02/2018
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Eye Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Inflammation can occur after laser or eye surgery, which can disrupt the tear film and eye surface and lead to short- or long-term dry eye syndrome, where the eyes do not make enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. This causes the eyes to become dry, red, and irritated. Reducing the inflammation can allow the eye surface to function normally. Blinking naturally helps express meibum (oil) from healthy meibomian glands in the eyelids. If these glands are blocked, the eyes become dry and inflamed. Treatment to unblock the glands involves eyelid massage. Tear film stability can be improved by expression of the meibomian glands by eyelid massage and consuming omega fatty acid supplements. However, there is a need for a hygienic and effective eyelid-massaging tool. Dry eye patients most frequently use their fingers to massage their eyelids in an incorrect and ineffective manner. Eyepeace is a new, unique, CE-marked medical device, designed to combat the issues of dry eye due to meibomian gland dysfunction. It is specially designed to be a non-invasive way to massage the meibomian glands, resulting in the treatment and prevention of dry eye. Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients experience improvements in symptoms after taking omega fatty acid supplements. This study aims to test the effects of combined use of Eyepeace (eyelid massager) for expressing the meibomian glands and oral Eye Nutrients (omega fatty acid supplements) for reducing eye surface inflammation over 3 months. Eye Nutrients has a unique blend of omega fatty acids, chosen to reduce inflammation of the eye surface.
Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 or over undergoing laser and/or intraocular lens (IOL) refractive surgery
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups. Group A uses the Eyepeace eyelid massager once a day from 1 week before surgery until the day before surgery, and also take Eye Nutrients, two capsules a day, from 1 week before surgery until 3 months after surgery. Group B takes Eye Nutrients only as described above. Group C does not use Eyepeace or Eye Nutrients. All participants undergo eye tests at the start of the study and 3 months after starting treatment.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is no direct benefit to participants from being in this study. However, their participation may help others with dry eye in the future because of knowledge gained from this research. There are no risks associated with gently massaging the eyelids, consuming monitored omega fatty acid supplements and completing eye tests at the clinic. All tests on the eyes are general eye examinations performed by trained professionals.
Where is the study run from?
Cathedral Eye Clinic (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2018 to July 2018
Who is funding the study?
Cathedral Eye Clinic (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Jonathan Moore
Contact information
Scientific
Cathedral Eye Clinic
89-91 Academy Street
Belfast
BT1 2LS
United Kingdom
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomized parallel-assigned single-blind (investigator) trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Investigate the improvements in tear film/ocular surface and visual recovery in laser and intraocular lens (IOL) refractive surgery patients preoperative using the Eyepeace (Eyelid massager) and Eye Nutrients (omega fatty acid supplement) |
| Study acronym | EPEN |
| Study objectives | Symptoms of dry eye due to transient tear film disruption can occur in most patients post laser and intraocular lens (IOL) refractive surgery. Therefore expression of the meibomian glands with the 'Eyepeace' eyelid massager and consumption of 'Eye Nutrients' omega fatty acids will improve their condition. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Not provided at time of registration |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Dry eye |
| Intervention | Participants are randomised 1:1:1 by random number generation to one of three groups (the researcher who tests the patients will not know whether they belong to the study group A, study group B, or control group): Treatment for Group A: Eyepeace eyelid massage: once a day, to be started 1 week prior to laser or intraocular lens surgery, to be stopped one day prior to surgery Eye nutrients: two capsules a day, to be started 1 week prior to laser or intraocular lens surgery, to be stopped 3 months after surgery Treatment for Group B: Eye nutrients: two capsules a day, to be started 1 week prior to laser or intraocular lens surgery, to be stopped 3 months after surgery Treatment for Group C: No Eyepeace or Eye nutrients All participants undergo eye examinations at enrolment, baseline and 3 months after starting treatment. |
| Intervention type | Mixed |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Tear film lipid layer thickness for right and left eyes, measured using images captured with Tearscope at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Measured at baseline, 1 month and 3 months: |
| Completion date | 01/07/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 225 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 18 or over 2. Have otherwise healthy eyes 3. Are prepared not to wear contact lens for 3 months of the trial 4. Have a NITBUT <10s 5. OSDI score: greater than or equal to 12 6. Symptom frequency at least "some of the time" 7. Presence of cloudy fluid expressed from at least 1 of the central 8 glands on the lower/upper lid AND/OR presence of poor expressibility from at least 2-3 of the central 8 glands on the lower lid |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Conjunctivitis 2. Meibomian cysts 3. Styes 4. Damage to the cornea 5. Ocular injury 6. Cataract or laser refractive surgery in the past 6 months 7. Increased intraocular pressure (primary or secondary) 8. Any chronic disease of the eye |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/03/2018 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/04/2018 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Northern Ireland
Study participating centre
BT1 2LS
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Prof. Jonathan Moore. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
