# Efficacy of povidone and propylene glycol–based artificial tears in the treatment of dry eye disease

## TL;DR

This study shows that artificial tears with povidone and propylene glycol improve dry eye symptoms and tear stability with few side effects.

## Contribution

A new formulation of artificial tears is shown to effectively treat mild to moderate dry eye disease.

## Key findings

- Ocular Surface Disease Index scores improved significantly, indicating reduced symptoms.
- Tear break-up time increased, with 63.5% of eyes reaching ≥10 seconds after treatment.
- Corneal staining scores improved, with 69.2% of eyes showing no staining post-treatment.

## Abstract

This clinical study aimed to assess the effectiveness of microemulsion
artificial tears containing povidone and propylene glycol in the management
of dry eye disease. Secondary objectives included evaluating improvements in
tear-film stability, measured by tear break-up time and corneal staining
scores, along with the tolerability and safety of the formulation.

This was a prospective, single-arm interventional study involving 30
participants (52 eyes) diagnosed with dry eye disease. Participants
self-administered the investigational eye drops twice daily for 28
consecutive days. Primary and secondary outcomes included changes in the
Ocular Surface Disease Index, tear break-up time, and corneal staining
scores. Adverse events were documented throughout the study period.

Significant improvements in Ocular Surface Disease Index scores were
observed, reflecting a reduction in dry eye disease symptoms. Tear break-up
time increased notably between baseline and follow-up assessments, with the
proportion of eyes exhibiting tear break-up time ≥10 s rising from
25.0% to 63.5%. Additionally, the percentage of eyes with a corneal staining
score of zero improved from 23.1% to 69.2%. Conjunctival staining also
decreased, with the proportion of eyes with scores of 2 and 3 dropping from
11.5% to 3.8% and 5.8% to 0%, respectively.

The findings suggest that povidone and propylene glycol-based artificial
tears significantly enhance tear-film stability and alleviate symptoms in
patients with mild to moderate dry eye disease, with minimal adverse
effects. This formulation represents a safe and effective short-term
treatment option for dry eye disease management.