Abstract
Purpose
To determine the effectiveness of the Aurai water propelled, heating Eye Massager
(AEM) in managing dry eye disease and its effects on the ocular adnexa.
Methods
This prospective, randomised cross-over study enrolled 15 participants (aged 25.8
± 5.45 years, 5 male). Participants wore a smart watch 24 h a day to track their sleeping
cycle and heart rate for 4 weeks, using the AEM twice a day for 2 of those weeks.
A cycle of 6 min of a controlled heat and vibration pattern in the morning and another
cycle in the evening were applied with the AEM. Primary outcomes of symptomatology
(Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Symptom Assessment iN Dry Eye (SANDE)), tear
film and ocular surface homeostasis markers (osmolarity, non-invasive breakup time
(NIKBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), lipid layer thickness and ocular staining) and
safety measures (ocular redness and intraocular pressure), were assessed at baseline,
after 2 weeks of AEM use and after 2 weeks of no treatment (in random-sequence). Sleeping
tracking (ST) and heart rate/blood oxygen detection over these periods was also assessed.
Results
There was a significant change in OSDI score from 34.3 ± 19.5 at baseline to 18.8
± 17.5 after treatment (p = 0.001) and also for the SANDE (5.7 ± 2.4 vs 3.7 ± 2.1;
p = 0.001). Heart rate was not affected by treatment (p = 0.956), nor sleep pattern
(p = 0.529), but this varied by day (p = 0.001). Tear film and ocular surface homeostasis,
the ocular adnexia and safety measures were not affected by treatment (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
The Aurai water propelled Eye Massager may reduce the severity of symptoms of dry
eye, but there were no detectable effects on tear stability and ocular surface disease
from two weeks use.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 30, 2020
Accepted:
June 18,
2020
Received in revised form:
June 16,
2020
Received:
May 1,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
