Impact of TearCare on Reading Speed in Patients with Dry Eye Disease

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of TearCare (TC) treatment on clinical, quality of life, and functional visual outcome metrics in patients with dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland disease (MGD). Methods: This is a prospective, single-center clinical trial. Adults with MGD and a DED diagnosis and tear break-up time (TBUT) <10 seconds were included. All subjects had at least 20/40 vision and no surgery or new treatment for DED within 60 days prior to enrollment. All patients had one baseline visit prior to undergoing TC and one follow-up visit 1 month after TC. At each visit, the meibomian gland secretion score (MGSS), TBUT, and corneal fluorescein staining (KFL) were assessed. DED symptoms were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25), and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Reading speed was determined through the International Reading Speed Texts (IReST), Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test (MNREAD), and Wilkins Rate of Reading Test (WRRT). Results: Thirty-two subjects were included. The average age was 55.9 years. Sixteen (52%) participants had a clinically significant improvement in reading speed after treatment with TC, defined as >10 words per minute increase in their IReST score. Improvement on the IReST and the MNREAD reached statistical significance (p = 0.012 and p = 0.028, respectively). OSDI scores significantly decreased and VFQ-25 scores significantly increased after TC treatment (p < 0.001). All of the clinical exam parameters showed statistically significant improvements after treatment (p < 0.001). Conclusion: TC is an effective treatment both clinically and with respect to visual function. Patients who had TC exhibited improvements in quality of life and improved reading speed after a single treatment. This treatment should be frequently considered and utilized to reduce the disease burden of DED related to MGD.