The following is a summary of “Efficacy of Perfluorohexyloctane for the Treatment of Patients With Dry Eye Disease: A Meta-Analysis,” published in the December 2024 issue of Ophthalmology by Taloni et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for assessing the efficacy and safety of perfluorohexyloctane in treating dry eye disease.
They searched literature on PubMed and Scopus in April 2024 using the search terms (“perfluorohexyloctane” or “NOV03” or “semifluorinated alkane”) and “dry eye.” The extension and paired-eyes studies were excluded, and the risk of bias was estimated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Forest plots and a summary of findings were generated for total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS), tear film break-up time (TFBUT), eye dryness score (EDS), and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI).
The results showed improvement in tCFS after 8 weeks of perfluorohexyloctane treatment (pooled standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.53; 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.38; P <0.001), with moderately high heterogeneity (I2 = 52.0%). No significant difference in TFBUT was observed (SMD = 0.05; 95% CI, -0.16 to 0.25; P =0.654). Patients treated with NOV03 showed significantly lower EDS compared to controls (SMD = -0.49; 95% CI, -0.66 to -0.32; P <0.001), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 71.1%). No significant difference was found in the OSDI (SMD = -0.13; 95% CI, -0.43 to 0.17; P=0.412).
Investigators concluded the perfluorohexyloctane is an effective and safe alternative for treating evaporative dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction, significantly reducing tear film stability and eye dryness symptoms, although further research is needed to evaluate its impact on other ocular surface parameters.
