Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39622217›Full record

SynthesisOphthalmic research2025

Efficacy of Perfluorohexyloctane for the Treatment of Patients with Dry Eye Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Andrea Taloni, Giulia Coco, Marco Pellegrini, Vincenzo Scorcia, Giuseppe Giannaccare

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Ophthalmic research, 2025. 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
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. 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

5 authors.

Andrea TaloniDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Giulia CocoDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Marco PellegriniDepartment of Ophthalmology, Ospedali Privati Forlì "Villa Igea", Forlì, Italy.
Vincenzo ScorciaDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Giuseppe GiannaccareEye Clinic, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe aim of the study was to systematically review the evidence from randomized controlled trials that evaluate the efficacy and safety of perfluorohexyloctane in the treatment of dry eye disease.

methodsLiterature search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus in April 2024 with the search strategy ("perfluorohexyloctane" or "NOV03" or "semifluorinated alkane") and "dry eye." Extension and paired-eyes study were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Forest plots and a summary of findings were prepared for total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS), tear film break-up time (TFBUT), eye dryness score (EDS), and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI).

resultsThe pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) for tCFS after 8 weeks of treatment was -0.53 (95% CI: -0.68 to -0.38; p < 0.001), indicating a significant improvement in patients treated with perfluorohexyloctane. The between-study heterogeneity was moderately high (I2 = 52.0%). No significant differences in TFBUT were observed (SMD = 0.05; 95% CI: -0.16 to 0.25; p = 0.654). Regarding symptoms, patients treated with NOV03 had significantly lower EDS compared to controls (SMD = -0.49; 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.32; p < 0.001), with moderately high heterogeneity (I2 = 71.1%). Conversely, the pooled SMD of OSDI was -0.13 (95% CI: -0.43 to 0.17; p = 0.412), indicating no significant difference.

conclusionPerfluorohexyloctane is an effective and safe alternative for the treatment of evaporative dry eye disease due to MGD that can significantly reduce tCFS and eye dryness symptoms. More well-designed non-sponsored randomized clinical trials are required to investigate the impact on other ocular surface parameters.

Indexed as

Dry Eye SyndromesFluorocarbonsOphthalmic SolutionsHumansTearsTreatment OutcomeFluorocarbonsOphthalmic Solutionsperfluorohexyl-octanDry eyeNOV03NovaTearsOcular surfacePerfluorohexyloctane

Identifiers

PMID39622217
PMCPMC11844700

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.