Lipid, Aqueous and Mucin Tear Film Layer Stability and Permanence within 0.15% Liposome Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid versus 0.15% Non-Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid Measured with a Novel Non-Invasive Ocular Surface Analyzer

Abstract

To evaluate the stability and permanence of the liquid film created after the instillation of 0.15% crosslinked hyaluronic acid with liposomes and crocin versus the effect of 0.15% standard hyaluronic acid, a prospective, longitudinal, single-blind, single-center study was conducted in symptomatic populations with a novel noninvasive ocular surface analyzer. Limbal and bulbar redness classification, lipid layer thickness, tear meniscus height, and first and mean noninvasive break-up time (FNIBUT and MNIBUT) were performed before and 30 and 45 min after liposome-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (LCHA) and standard hyaluronic acid (HA) eye drop instillations. LCHA had a higher lipid layer thickness than HA (grades 2.00 ± 0.83 and 1.17 ± 0.63 on the Guillon pattern, respectively). LCHA achieved a better tear meniscus height than HA (0.23 ± 0.02 and 0.21 ± 0.02 mm, respectively). LCHA improved FNIBUT and MNIBUT more than HA (for FNIBUT, 6.30 ± 0.94 and 4.77 ± 0.89 s, respectively. For MNIBUT, 17.23 ± 5.11 and 12.41 ± 4.18 s, respectively). Crosslinking hyaluronic acid with liposomes and crocin significantly increases the permanence and stability of the lipid, aqueous, and mucin tear film layers. In a short-term period, liposome and crosslinked hyaluronic acid achieved better first and mean noninvasive break-up times than standard hyaluronic acid.