Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38523298›Full record

ArticleBMC ophthalmology2024

Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of Emustil drops for ocular discomfort and tear film osmolarity using different treatment management modes under dry environmental conditions.

Ali Abusharha, E Ian Pearce, Tayyaba Afsar, Suhail Razak

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC ophthalmology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Diagnostic methods for managing dry eyes.World journal of methodology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Ali AbusharhaDepartment of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
E Ian PearceGlasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddence Road, G4 0BA, Glasgow, UK.
Tayyaba AfsarDepartment of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. tayyaba_sona@yahoo.com.
Suhail RazakDepartment of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. smarazi@ksu.edu.sa.
King Saud University · SAGlasgow Caledonian University · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWe aimed to check the efficacy of Emustil (oil in water emulsion) drops on tear film index and ocular surface dynamics in dry environments through protection and relief treatment modalities.

methodsThe subjects were exposed to a dry environment using a Controlled Environment Chamber (CEC) where the relative humidity (RH) was 5% and the temperature was 21 °C and screened for ocular symptoms, tear osmolarity, ocular surface temperature (OST) and tear production using ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI), OcuSense TearLab Osmometer, FLIR System ThermaCAM P620 and Schirmer strips/phenol red test respectively. Tear production was calculated by the Tear Function Index test (TFI).

resultsThe mean tear film osmolarity decreased significantly from 296.8 mOsm/l at 40% RH to 291 mOsm/l at 5%. (p = 0.01). Instillation of Emustil resulted in a significant increase in tear osmolarity in the relief method compared with osmolarity seen at 5% RH when no drop was used. The mean PRT value decreased from 26 ± 9 in normal conditions (40% RH) to 22 ± 4 mm in dry conditions (5% RH). Emustil drops did not induce any significant change in tear production in the PRT test. No significant change was found in OST following exposure to 5% RH. OST did not show a statistically significant change with the emulsion when used for relief (p > 0.05). The mean score of ocular discomfort observed was 70 at 5% RH. Still, the instillation of the oil-in-water emulsion (Emustil) resulted in a noticeable decrease in visual discomfort to 37 (p = 0.00) in protection and 59 in relief (p = 0.05). Emustil drops substantially improved tear film parameters under a desiccating environment, however, tear film parameters respond differently to the management modalities. In the protection method, tear film osmolarity was protected against a dry environment, while in the relief mode, tear production was improved.

conclusionCEC allows for a thorough evaluation of tear film parameters and dry eye treatment protocols in labs, providing greater confidence when applying them to patients. In addition, our study showed that Emustil not only provides protection and relief for dry eyes but also helps to maintain ocular homeostasis in desiccating environments. This indicates a promising potential for improving dry eye treatment protocols.

Indexed as

Dry Eye SyndromesLacerationsEmulsionsHumansOsmolar ConcentrationTearsWaterEmulsionsWaterDry environmentLow humidityOcular surface temperatureOcular symptomsOil in water emulsionTear osmolarityTear production

Identifiers

PMID38523298
PMCPMC10962139
OpenAlexW4394766502

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.