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The Effect of a Pre-cataract Surgical Ocular Hygiene Regime on Microbial Load, Tear Osmolarity, Dry Eye, and Inflammatory Markers

A Prospective Study on the Effect of Pre-cataract Surgical Ocular Hygiene Regime on Microbial Load, Tear Osmolarity, Dry Eye, and Inflammatory Markers Between Two Ocular Hygiene Regimen Groups

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05990712
Enrollment
68
Registered
2023-08-14
Start date
2023-09-01
Completion date
2024-01-01
Last updated
2023-08-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dry Eye, Dry Eye Syndromes, Cataract

Keywords

Pre-operative, Ocular hygiene, Omega 3, Microbial load, Inflammation, Tear osmolarity

Brief summary

This study assesses the impact of two differing ocular hygiene regimens prior to cataract surgery. The first regimen includes an omega-3 supplement and the second without, and both include an at-home lid wipe and cleansing eye drops. These regimens will be assessed on microbial load, inflammation, tear osmolarity, and dry eye metrics. Patients will be randomized to either the omega-3 group + 3-part hygiene regimen, or the group with only the 3-part hygiene regimen. Data will be collected for inflammation through a test (InflammaDry) that measures an inflammatory marker, dry eye metrics via an imaging tool called Oculus 5M and the Canadian Dry Eye Assessment (CDEA) questionnaire, tear osmolarity through Tear Labs device, and area of growth for conjunctiva microbial load by swabbing the conjunctiva of the eye. Dry eye metrics (CDEA and Oculus 5M) will be collected during the patient's baseline appointment, 2-5 days prior to surgery, and post-operative month 1. Microbial load swabs will be collected at baseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, and date of the surgery. An ocular assessment will also be completed at baseline, one week post-operation, and one month post-operation. All metrics will be compared to the fellow eye. The usage of omega-3 will be compared to the regimen without omega-3.

Detailed description

Prospective interventional study assessing the impact of two ocular hygiene regimens, with and without Omega-3, on microbial load, inflammation, tear osmolarity, and dry eye metrics and disease for patients soon to undergo cataract surgery. Study recruitment will occur at Uptown Eye between Sept-Nov 2023, with a target of 68 patients enrolled in the study. Patients will be consecutively randomized to group 1 (without omega 3 group) or group 2 (with omega 3 group). The intervention includes Zocular in clinic at baseline, Thealoz Duo eyedrops twice daily until surgery, and the cleansing wipes twice daily until surgery. The omega 3 group will take the supplement from baseline until one month post-operative. Data will be collected for inflammation through a InflammaDry Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) test, dry eye through Oculus 5M (measures non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), lipid layer, bulbar redness, tear meniscus height) and Canadian Dry Eye Assessment (CDEA), TearLab for osmolarity, and conjunctival swabs for microbial load. Dry eye metrics (CDEA and Oculus 5M) will be collected during the patient's baseline Cataract Dry Eye Clinic (CDEC) appointment, 2-5 days prior to surgery, and post-operative month 1. Microbial load will be collected at baseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, and date of the surgery. Tear osmolarity and inflammation markers will be collected at baseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, and post-operative month. An ocular assessment will also be completed at baseline, one week post-operation, and post-operative month. All metrics will be compared to the fellow eye.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTOmega-3

Omega-3 is a fatty acid and there is evidence that the consumption of re-esterified oral omega-3 supplements over the course of 6 to 8 weeks aid in reducing inflammation, dry eye, and optimizing tear osmolarity. The oral omega-3 supplement taken daily.

Eyedrops consisting of trehalose and sodium hyaluronate that lubricate and hydrate the eye to relieve dry eye.

A lid cleaning and debridement system that consists of okra-based gel to relieve dry eye or inflammation. The gel is applied to the eyelid margin and lashes with a cotton swab.

OTHERBlephadex cleansing eyelid wipes

Eyelid cleansing wipes with tea tree oil and coconut that help reduce infection.

Sponsors

WIlliam Osler Health Systems
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Forsee Canada
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Uptown Eye Specialists
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Patients will be assigned to either the omega-3 group or no omega-3 group.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients 18 or older who underwent cataract surgical ocular hygiene treatment regimen prior to cataract surgery. * Patients of all severity of dry eye will be included.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with any other ocular comorbidities (glaucoma, iritis, traumatic eye injury, known systemic autoimmune diseases, immune disorders, anti-inflammatory medications, blood disorders (eg. altered white counts), prior surgery, prior traumatic eye injury, previous dry eye interventions such as ocular plugs, radiofrequency, and IPL). * Patients who have any complications arise during the cataract surgery. * Patients with altered mental state and cannot provide informed consent.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
MMP-9Baseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, post-operative month 1Level of MMP-9, an inflammatory marker reported as positive (level of MMP-9 \> 40ng/mL) or negative (level of MMP-9 \< 40ng/mL).
Microbial loadBaseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, surgery dayArea of microbial growth from conjunctival swab reported as percentage of dish coverage, incubated for 48 hours
Tear osmolarityBaseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, surgery dayMeasure of salt concentration in tear reported as mOsm/L

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tear meniscus heightBaseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, post-operative month 1Tear meniscus height (TMH) is reported in millimetres, with increases in TMH representing a better outcome.
Non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT)Baseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, post-operative month 1Non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) is measured using the Oculus 5M and measured in seconds, with longer NIBUT representing better outcomes.
Canadian Dry Eye Assessment (CDEA) QuestionnaireBaseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, post-operative month 112 item questionnaire for reporting of dry eye symptoms on a scale of 0-4. Total scores for the CDEA questionnaire range from 0 to 48 and are interpreted as no dry eye symptoms or normal (\<5), mild dry eye symptoms (5-20), moderate dry eye symptoms (21-30), or severe dry eye symptoms (31-48).
Lipid layerBaseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, post-operative month 1Lipid layer is reported in nanometres with higher/thicker lipid layers representing a better outcome.
Bulbar rednessBaseline, 2-5 days prior to surgery, post-operative month 1Bulbar redness is reported by a score from 0-4 with lower scores representing a better outcome.

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactSohel Somani, MD
sohel.somani@uptowneye.ca416-292-0330

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026