Research involving Australian patients has returned positive results for a device intended for the treatment of chronic ocular surface pain (COSP).
The 31 Aussies were involved in a pilot-stage, randomised, double-masked study to test the device, named ETX-4143, which is being developed by EyeCool Therapeutics, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
A report on the study said results were first presented at the American European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery Winter Symposium in February, in Aspen, Colorado.
A media release said the pilot study examined the safety and efficacy of ETX-4143 for treating COSP, often a persistent symptom of dry eye disease.
In the release, the company said the device gently cooled the surface of each eye for four minutes and targeted the myelinated long ciliary nerves, which are associated with ocular pain.
It reported that many patients experienced immediate relief and lasting effects which improved over the following weeks.
EyeCool Therapeutics said a statistically significant reduction in eye pain severity was observed using a patient reported outcome instrument, specifically designed for COSP.
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