The Effect of Manuka Eye Drops on Tear Film Properties
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03622619 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : August 9, 2018
Results First Posted : January 27, 2021
Last Update Posted : January 27, 2021
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Dry Eye Syndrome | Other: Optimel Antibacterial Manuka+ Dry Eye Drops Other: Systane Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 46 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | The Effect of Manuka Eye Drops on Tear Film Properties |
Actual Study Start Date : | August 13, 2018 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | October 30, 2018 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | October 30, 2018 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Manuka eye drops |
Other: Optimel Antibacterial Manuka+ Dry Eye Drops
Leptospermum sp Honey 165mg/g |
Active Comparator: Systane Ultra |
Other: Systane Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops
Polyethylene glycol 400 0.4% and propylene glycol 0.3% |
- A Measurable Difference in Tear Lipid Layer Thickness After 4 Weeks of Daily Use [ Time Frame: 28 days ]The primary endpoint is a measurable difference in tear lipid layer thickness between Optimel Manuka eye drops and Systane Ultra eye drops after 4 weeks of daily use. Tear film inferior lipid layer thickness (LLT; nm) is measured using the LipiView II (Johnson and Johnson Vision, USA). The participant's eye is positioned in front of an illumination source that is directed toward the tear film on the corneal surface. The camera records a 20-second video of the tear film interference and subsequently displays a value in interferometric colour units (ICU), where 1 ICU approximates 1nm of lipid layer thickness.
- A Measurable Difference in Tear Evaporation Rate After 4 Weeks of Daily Use. [ Time Frame: 28 days ]A measurable difference in Tear evaporation rate between Optimel Manuka eye drops and Systane Ultra eye drops after 4 weeks of daily use. Measured using a Modified Vapometer. The Modified Vapometer is a closed chamber device which is used for measuring transepidermal water loss. Participants will be seated upright on a chair and provided with a distance fixation target. To minimize the effect of skin evaporation, petroleum jelly (Vaseline, http://www.unilever.com.au/brands-in-action/detail/Vaseline/299339/) will be applied over the upper eyelid and the surrounding areas. The VapoMeter will then be placed over the eye and a non-invasive measurement of tear evaporation will be taken within 10 s. Participants will be instructed not to blink during open eye measurement and to maintain a normal straight gaze at the fixation target. Evaporation rates with the eyes closed will also be taken, in order to account for the skin evaporation from eyelids and surrounding skin tissue.
- A Measurable Difference in Fluorescein Tear Break-up Time After 4 Weeks of Daily Use [ Time Frame: 28 days ]A measurable difference in fluorescein tear break-up time between Optimel Manuka eye drops and Systane Ultra eye drops after 4 weeks of daily use. Fluorescein tear break-up time (TBUT; sec) (Opti-Strip-FL, Optimed, Lane Cove West, NSW, Australia) was measured viewed with a yellow Wratten filter (No. 12, Kodak) and cobalt light of the slit lamp biomicroscope. Three consecutive TBUT measurements for each eye were taken by a single masked investigator.
- A Measurable Difference in Subjective Symptoms After 4 Weeks of Daily Use [ Time Frame: 28 days ]A measurable difference in subjective symptoms between Optimel Manuka eye drops and Systane Ultra eye drops after 4 weeks of daily use. Subjective symptoms is measured using an visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores meaning worse outcome. Participants are asked to visually represent their symptom severity by marking a dot on a line ten centimetres in length. These are then measured using a ruler to the nearest 0.5mm and given a score from zero to 100, with zero indicative of no symptoms and 100 suggesting maximum symptom severity

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Able to read and comprehend English and give informed consent as demonstrated by signing a record of informed consent;
- General population aged 18 years and over;
- In good general health;
- Subjectively experiencing dry eye symptoms (e.g. burning, irritation, and discomfort due to dryness of the eye or exposure to wind or sun). Participants will be selected based on a minimum OSDI score of 13 points (1).
- Willing to discontinue CL wear for 1 week before first visit and continue to do so until the conclusion of the study;
- Participant is willing to discontinue their use of any previous conventional dry eye treatment method commenced before the study throughout the study;
- Willing to comply with the dosage and study visit schedule as directed by the investigator;
- No planned changes to diet and willing not to substantially alter their usual diet for the duration of the study, including their typical intake of fish, green tea or oral supplements known to have anti-inflammatory properties;
- Willingness to notify the study investigator if instructed to alter their diet by health/medical practitioner.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Allergy to benzoic acid preservatives;
- Allergy to honey products;
- Active anterior eye disease/ infection, inflammation/allergy that requires ocular medical treatment;
- Eye injury or surgery in the past 6 months including chemical burns, penetrating injuries, traumatic iritis, orbital fractures, laser surgery, strabismus surgery, cataract or any other intraocular surgeries;
- Soft contact lens, rigid gas permeable, orthokeratology lens wearer within one week prior to the study and during the study.
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Use of any of the following medications (including steroids) up to 12 weeks prior to start of the study or during the course of the study:
- Ocular medication, category S3 and above;
- Any systemic or topical medications that will affect ocular physiology e.g. anti-acne medications such as Roaccutane and corticosteroid or immunosuppressant medications such as Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone and antihistamine medications such as Claritine;
- Any systemic disease that may affect ocular health e.g. Graves disease, and auto-immune diseases such as ankolysing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosis;
- Epilepsy or history of migraines exacerbated by flashing, strobe-like lights.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03622619
Australia, New South Wales | |
School of Optometry and Vision Science | |
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2050 |
Principal Investigator: | Jacqueline Tan, PhD | University of New South Wales |
Documents provided by Jacqueline Tan-Showyin, The University of New South Wales:
Responsible Party: | Jacqueline Tan-Showyin, Senior Research Fellow, The University of New South Wales |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03622619 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
SOVS2018-501 |
First Posted: | August 9, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | January 27, 2021 |
Last Update Posted: | January 27, 2021 |
Last Verified: | January 2021 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Plan Description: | Study results will be made available in the form of summaries |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | Yes |
Dry Eye Syndromes Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases Eye Diseases Anti-Bacterial Agents |
Ophthalmic Solutions Lubricant Eye Drops Pharmaceutical Solutions Anti-Infective Agents |