A smartphone-based blink training application for alleviating dry eye signs and symptoms.

Abstract

Dry eye disease (DED) is exacerbated by prolonged screen use, partly due to reduced blink frequency and a higher percentage of incomplete blinks (IB). In this prospective, randomized study, we assessed whether a smartphone‑based blink‑training application alleviates the signs and symptoms of DED. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group that used the application or a control group without intervention, and they were followed for 30 days. Primary outcomes were Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, blink rate (BR), percentage of IB, Ocular Protection Index (OPI), and tear‑film stability. After 30 days, the intervention group showed significant improvements in blink behavior and ocular surface parameters, whereas the control group showed no meaningful changes. Generalized estimating equations indicated that training duration, OPI, BR, and sex were independently associated with changes in the OSDI scores. These findings suggested that a simple, app‑based behavioral intervention yields measurable benefits for DED management and provided a scalable, cost‑effective strategy for ocular health preservation in digital environments.