A prospective controlled study looked at 53 patients, including 18 males and 35 females, who were undergoing cataract surgery. The researchers compared Manuka eye drops containing Leptospermum spp against standard sodium hyaluronate drops. Measurements were taken before surgery and at one day, one week, and one month afterward.
At the one-month mark, the group using Manuka drops showed a greater reduction in dry eye symptoms, measured by the OSDI score, compared to the control group. The study also found less conjunctival redness in the Manuka group at that same time point. However, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding how long tears stayed on the eye.
No adverse events, serious issues, or discontinuations were reported, suggesting the drops were well-tolerated. Because this study was small and the findings are considered hypothesis-generating, results should be interpreted with caution. This early evidence does not yet prove that Manuka drops are superior, but it offers a potential benefit worth noting for patients with dry eye disease.