As part of a National Eye Institute (NEI)-funded study, researchers from the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine are investigating the potential for low-cost indoor air quality improvements to help reduce dry eye symptoms.
The intent: for their findings to support simple, everyday strategies patients can implement to improve air quality in their homes.
First, what was the basis for this research?
That would be 2024 clinical research that examined whether different home interventions may improve indoor air quality and dry eye disease (DED) symptoms among 165 participants.
Based on those findings, researchers determined several key takeaways:
- Low-cost interventions were effective in reducing the concentration of particle mass in participants’ homes.
- Specifically: an air purifier, use of less harmful cleaning products (e.g., vinegar and baking soda), and removing carpets showed the greatest association with improvements in dry eye symptoms.
- Patients who implemented the recommended interventions experienced "significant improvements” in their DED symptoms versus those who did not follow recommendations.
And the conclusion?
Those researchers determined that the data provided “justification for incorporating evidence-based educational therapies to help manage DED symptoms.”
Noted. So how does this new study build on those results?
Thanks to a $5.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) NEI, researchers at the Miller School of Medicine are looking to expand on that initial evaluation by taking it a few steps further.
- In their own words: “We are trying to understand whether home environment, such as indoor air pollutants, air circulating bacteria and viruses, heat and humidity, are causing persistence of DE signs and symptoms.”
Tell me more.
Nearly 400 participants both with and without dry eye signs and symptoms are being recruited.
- See here for inclusion criteria.
The objective: to provide standardized, low-cost ways for patients to improve home air quality.
As Naresh Kumar, PhD, co-lead investigator and professor of environmental health in the Department of Public Health Science, noted: “The eyes are a relatively easy way to study the effects of indoor air quality measures.”
- “What we study in dry eye disease could also have implications for mitigating and managing other diseases, like asthma, COPD, immunological disorders and even sleep,” he added.
Speaking of investigators—who else is heading this research up?
Joining Dr. Kumar as co-lead of the study's research team of Miller School experts is Anat Galor, MD, MSPH, professor of Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
- See here for more on the other clinical experts.
- And take note: Drs. Kumar and Galor were both involved in the 2024 study.
Talk about the planned setup.
The multi-site study will kick off with all participants undergoing an eye exam as well as having their home air quality assessed. After that, they’ll be randomly assigned to one of two groups.
Within one week: Group 1 participants will receive specific tools and instructions to improve their home’s indoor air quality as well as guidance on practical ways to improve the overall home environment.
- For example: optimizing ventilation, keeping heat and humidity low, and reducing indoor sources of air pollution
Researchers will then determine if the changes lead to improvement in dry eye symptoms over time.
And for that second patient group?
Those participants will also receive intervention supplies—but only 6 months after their home is inspected.
For both groups: They’ll be required to remain in the study for a full 12 months, with eye exams conducted every 6 months (baseline, 6 months, and 12 months).
Regarding these interventions … do we know what they’ll include?
- Installing air purifiers
- Installing indoor plants
- Frequently changing air filters
- Frequency was not specified
- Controlling humidity and temperature
- Exact temperature was not specified
See how these compare to prior research (not the aforementioned 2024 study, take note) evaluating air quality and DED outcomes.
Noted. Anything else to be studied?
Investigators will also perform a cost-benefit analysis associated with adding the air quality interventions in participants’ homes.
This portion of the study will be led by David Kelly, professor of Economics, co-chair of the Sustainable Business Research Cluster, and academic director of the Master of Science in Sustainable Business at the University of Miami Business School.
So! Do we know when the study will kick off?
It’s actually ongoing—with recruitment now open. Click here to see.