Everything You Need to Know About MIEBO for Dry Eye

Redness, pain, blurry vision, gritty sensation, watering - all of these are the common signs of ocular surface disease, better known as dry eye syndrome. Until this year, the only FDA-approved eye drops to treat dry eye were focused on the anti-inflammatory pathway (Restasis 0.05% cyclosporine, Xiidra 5% lifitegrast, and Cequa 0.09% cyclosporine). If you're reading this article, chances are you have tried one or more of these treatment options. Each of these drops have had varying levels of success in helping patients control their signs and symptoms of dry eye, and have common side effects that include redness and burning with drop use. What's more, these drops have to be used long term to achieve symptom reduction and studies show that up to 60% of patients with dry eye syndrome using cyclosporine or lifitegrast discontinue drop use within a year of starting treatment.  Whether due to side effects, inconvenience, or ineffectiveness, this research suggests that many dry eye patients aren't finding lasting relief with the available prescription options for treatment. 

In June 2023 a new drop got FDA approval for treating the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease: MIEBO (100% perfluorohexyloctane). Instead of targeting inflammation as a pathway to dry eye relief, MEIBO targets tear film evaporation. Studies show that excessive tear evaporation is the most common cause of dry eye disease, with 86% of patients with dry eye experiencing some form of meibomian gland dysfunction. The meibomian glands are oil glands located in our top and bottom eyelids, and every time we blink they release the topcoat oil layer of our tears. If the glands are clogged, damaged, or inflamed, the oil cannot be released properly onto the eye's surface and our tears very quickly evaporate away. 

The meibomian glands run vertically through the top and bottom eyelid and the openings of the glands can be seen at the water line of the eyelid. This is a photo of my patient that has significant inflammation around the meibomian glands, causing congestion and clogging.

How Does MIEBO Work?

MIEBO works by targeting evaporation; it mimics the natural meibomian gland-released oil layer on the eye by spreading evenly across the eye's surface and reducing evaporation of the tear film. The drop gained FDA approval based on the outcomes of 2 multicenter, placebo-controlled studies: GOBI and MOJAVE. In these studies MIEBO showed statistically significant improvement in dry eye symptoms (measured by the Ocular Surface Disease Index [OSDI] and the Visual Analog Scale) and signs (measured by corneal staining - this is where dry and broken corneal cells are visualized using a sodium fluorescein dye). Full resolution of corneal staining was seen as early as day 15 using the MIEBO drop treatment!

MIEBO is 

• preservative free
• water free (which greatly reduces the risk of microbial growth!)
• to be used 4 x a day for maximum efficacy
• should not be used with contact lenses; wait 30 minutes after using Miebo before inserting a contact lens
  
  

Side Effects

The side effects of MIEBO were very minimal in the Phase 3 clinical studies: 0.05% of patients reported pain with drop insertion, 2.1% of patients reported blurry vision with drop use, and 0.8% of patients reported redness with drop use. MIEBO has not been studied in patients who are pregnant or nursing, or for use in children under the age of 18. 

Other Interesting Science

Perfluorohexyloctane (F6H8) as a molecule has been studied extensively in dry eye both in Europe and the US before the release of MIEBO as an FDA-approved treatment for dry eye, and this research has sparked plenty of buzz for eye doctors who have been highly anticipating a new approach to dry eye. Research on F6H8 shows it increases tear film thickness by 10 mm after insertion, reduces the friction between the eye and eyelids when you blink, and actually causes slight changes to the eye's surface temperature. Have you ever noticed how your eyes water in really cold air?  We have cold thermoreceptor nerve cells on the eye's surface, and by activating these nerves you will increase the release of tears and increase the rate of blinking (which would thus also increase the rate of Meibomian gland oil release!). Within 5 minutes of F6H8 drop insertion, ocular surface temperature measured by infrared video imaging decreased by an average of -0.7 degrees Celsius. Saline drops had no impact on corneal temperature. 

Infrared images showing the cooling effect of perfluorohexyloctane (F6H8) drops via. In Row A The right eye was given F6H8 drops and the left eye was given saline eye drops (which showed no temperature effect). In Row B, both eyes were given F6H8 drops. The cooling temperature effect was seen within 5 minutes of drop instillation and continued through 30 minutes after drop instillation.

Another interesting discussion regards the category of MIEBO as a PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substance), which has come under some scrutiny as the European Union has investigated changes and potential bans to how these chemicals are used in over the counter and prescription products. Check out this article for a deeper dive into PFAS and the possible risks. In a statement from Bausch and Lomb, MIEBO is by definition a PFAS molecule, but that definition does not "inform whether a compound is harmful or not." Perfluorohexyloctane (MIEBO) is "physically, chemically, and physiologically inert, and is practically immiscible in water."  The molecule has also undergone "extensive genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and toxicology studies with no significant adverse effects." Perfluorohexyloctane has been used with a high safety profile for many years as an eye drop in other countries, and for intraocular injections in the treatment of retinal detachments without incident.