Short-Term Changes in Tear Film Stability and Tear Volume Following the Application of Various DED Management Options in a Healthy Young Population

<b>Background:</b> To determine short-term changes in tear film volume and stability after various treatments for dry eye disease in healthy participants. <b>Methods:</b> 36 healthy participants aged from 18 to 35 years were recruited for a single-session examination and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups (1:1:1 treatment, 1:1 eye): Group 1 (artificial tears 'Comfort Drops'), Group 2 (eyelid wipes 'Systane Lid Wipes'), and Group 3 (ocular bath 'Acuaiss'). Tear Meniscus Height (TMH) was assessed at baseline, 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min, and Non-Invasive Break-Up Time (NIBUT) at baseline, 2, 10, and 20 min, all using the OCULUS Keratograph 5M by one examiner. <b>Results:</b> Of the initially recruited participants, 35 were analyzed; one was excluded for reflex tearing. Group 1 (n = 12) showed a significant TMH increase at 2 min compared to 10 and 20 min (Friedman, <i>p</i> = 0.004; Bonferroni, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.028). Group 3 (n = 12) showed a significant increase at 2 and 5 min compared to baseline and decrease at 10 min against 2 and 5 min (Friedman, <i>p</i> < 0.001; Bonferroni, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.034). Group 2 (n = 11) showed no significant changes over time (Friedman, <i>p</i> = 0.108). NIBUT showed no significant differences at any time-point in any group (Friedman, <i>p</i> ≥ 0.231). Basal TMH differed between groups (ANOVA, <i>p</i> = 0.048), but post hoc analysis found no significance (Bonferroni, all <i>p</i> ≥ 0.088). No significant differences in TMH at other time-points (Kruskal-Wallis/ANOVA, <i>p</i> ≥ 0.265) or in NIBUT between groups (Kruskal-Wallis/ANOVA, <i>p</i> = 0.108) were found. <b>Conclusions</b>: In healthy participants, artificial tears and ocular baths temporarily increase TMH, while eyelid wipes do not. Neither has an immediate impact on NIBUT.