ARVO 2025: Miebo demonstrates favorable tolerability in prescription refill rates

In detailing a poster presentation given on perfluorohexyloctane (PFHO) (Miebo) on a dry eye disease treatment, Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FEAOO, highlighted 2 key takeaways from the research. The first takeaway emphasizes the study's robust methodology. The demographic and prescription characteristics between the 2 patient groups were remarkably similar, providing a representative sample of dry eye disease patients. Shen Lee underscores that dry eye disease is complex, multifactorial, chronic, and progressive, with patients often experiencing multiple ocular surface conditions simultaneously.

The second key focus was on the medication's refill rate, which serves as a practical indicator of patient tolerance and satisfaction. PFHO, a 100% chemical molecule without water or preservatives, demonstrated exceptional patient adherence. According to Shen Lee, PFHO had a 70.7% refill rate, whereas 0.05% cyclosporine had a 43.4% refill rate. This represents a significant difference of almost 30% in patient continuation. The low refill rate for cyclosporine suggests patients may have experienced more adverse effects or found the medication less comfortable. In contrast, PFHO's high refill rate indicates superior patient tolerance.

Shen Lee also provided context about dry eye treatment options, noting there are only 4 FDA-approved immune modulator medications. PFHO represents an important addition to this limited category, offering physicians and patients another treatment alternative. Shen Lee underscored that the research was a collaborative effort, sponsored by Bausch + Lomb and involving multiple medical professionals. She concluded by acknowledging the complexity of dry eye conditions and the importance of developing well-tolerated, effective medications. The study's findings suggest PFHO could be a promising new option for patients struggling with dry eye disease, offering potentially better tolerance and patient adherence compared with existing treatments.