Formulations, devices, and methods for alleviating symptoms of ocular surface discomfort

A self-contained cooling device for cooling a target tissue surface of an ocular surface of a subject, the self-contained cooling device comprising:

• a housing;
• a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a formulation chamber configured to receive and hold a formulation, wherein the formulation is configured to freeze to a subzero temperature in a cold environment;
• an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured to allow a clinician to visualize a cornea of a subject;
• and
• a target surface interface comprising a first surface configured to contact the target tissue surface and a second surface configured to be contained within the formulation chamber, wherein the target surface interface is configured to conduct heat from the target tissue surface to the formulation after the formulation has been frozen to a subzero temperature within the formulation chamber.

A method of alleviating symptoms of ocular surface discomfort, the method comprising:

• cooling a self-contained cooling device containing a formulation, wherein the formulation is configured to at least partially freeze when cooled,
• placing the self-contained cooling device in contact with a target ocular surface,
• allowing the self-contained cooling device to lower the temperature of the target ocular surface for a period of time sufficient to alleviate symptoms of ocular surface discomfort;
• wherein the self-contained cooling device comprises a housing, a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a formulation chamber configured to receive and hold the formulation, an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured to allow a clinician to visualize a cornea of a subject, a target surface interface comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is configured to contact the target ocular surface and the second surface is configured to be contained within the formulation chamber.