Comparison of the efficacy of eyelid warming masks and artificial tears for dry eye symptoms in contact lens wearers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of artificial tears and warm compress with an eyelid warming mask (EWM) in alleviating dry eye syndrome (DES) in contact lens wearers Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized, active-controlled trial. Participants included 81 university students aged 19 or over, who had been wearing contact lenses for more than 1 year; they were randomly categorized into three groups. In the artificial tear group, one single-use artificial tear was administered every day as needed over a period of 4 weeks. In the EWM group, participants were instructed to apply a warm compress using a disposable EWM for 30 min before bedtime daily. Participants in the control group maintained their normal lifestyle without any treatment regimen. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Schirmer test scores for all participants were checked before the experiment and after 4 weeks. Results: After treatment, the EWM and artificial tears group had significantly decreased OSDI scores compared with the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the former two groups. The posttreatment Schirmer test scores for the right eye did not differ between three groups, whereas those for the left eye were significantly higher in the two treatment groups than in the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the EWN and artificial tears groups. Conclusion: Contact lens wearers who were instructed to apply a warm compress using EWM had significantly increased OSDI and Schirmer test scores, indicating that it has a positive effect on DES. In conclusion, applying a warm compress with EWM can be recommended as a treatment for DES in contact lens wearers who use lenses for an extended period.