ESCRS - PO267 - Efficacy Of Manuka Honey Eye Drops In Managing Dry Eye Disease After Cataract Surgery: A Clinical Controlled Trial

Efficacy Of Manuka Honey Eye Drops In Managing Dry Eye Disease After Cataract Surgery: A Clinical Controlled Trial

Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PO267 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/608p-rn67

Authors: Karl Mercieca* 1 , Lilit Voskanyan 2 , Hayk Babayan 3 , Vahan Papoyan 3 , Mario de La Torre Estremadoyro 4 , Philippe Sourdille 5

1Glaucoma ,University of Bonn ,Bonn,Germany, 2Glaucoma,SV Malayan Eye Institute,Yerevan,Armenia, 3Glaucoma ,SV Malayan Eye Institute,Yerevan,Armenia, 4Scientific ,Quantel Medical,Clermont-Ferrand,France, 5Institut Sourdille Atlantique,Nantes,France

Purpose

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of Leptospermum spp. (Manuka) honey eye drops in improving dry eye symptoms and reducing ocular inflammation after cataract surgery, compared to sodium hyaluronate eye drops.

Setting

Setting: Tertiary hospital within the Spanish National Health System.

Methods

Methods: Prospective controlled clinical trial with consecutive patient allocation. Patients undergoing cataract surgery were included. Exclusion criteria were ocular surface or conjunctival diseases, use of other topical treatments (e.g., antiglaucoma drops), and previous surgery on the same eye. Patients received either Manuka (n=25) or sodium hyaluronate (n=28) eye drops. OSDI and CAT-QUEST SF9 assessed symptoms, while NIBUT and conjunctival redness (Keratograph® 5M) were measured objectively. Follow-ups were performed preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively.

Results

Results: A total of 53 eyes from 53 patients (18 males, 35 females; mean age 72.1 ± 7.6 years) were analyzed. At one month, the Manuka group showed a significant OSDI improvement (-27.3 ± 20.3; p < 0.001) versus the sodium hyaluronate group (-4.3 ± 17.4; p = 0.214). Conjunctival redness decreased in the Manuka group (-0.1 ± 0.3) but increased in controls (0.4 ± 0.6), with a significant difference (p < 0.001). NIBUT differences between groups were not significant.

Conclusions

Conclusions: Manuka honey eye drops were more effective than sodium hyaluronate in alleviating dry eye symptoms and reducing ocular surface inflammation after cataract surgery.