Inflammation in Dry Eye Disease - Information on Diagnostic Testing and Therapy Using the Scientific Online Information Platform OSCB-Berlin.org

Abstract

Dry eye is considered the most common disease in ophthalmology. In recent decades, there has been intensive clinical and experimental research on this condition and our scientific knowledge of its pathophysiology has greatly expanded. The disease may be simple or severe and may lead to complex deregulation of the functional anatomy of the ocular surface, typically with a disparity between the clinical findings and the patient's symptoms. Chronic tissue injury induces various vicious circles that together lead to progressive worsening of the clinical picture. This can trigger inflammatory reactions that further intensify the disease process and can lead to the development of immunomodulated inflammation and a chronic pain syndrome. Both are relatively resistant to therapy in ordinary clinical practice. Better insight into the pathophysiological basics has enabled many approaches for innovations in diagnosis and therapy of dry eye. Nevertheless, sicca practice typically requires a great deal of time, usually offers only symptomatic therapy in everyday life and is often unsatisfactory for the patient and for his or her physician. For this reason, dry eye is often rather difficult to understand and difficult to manage. The scientific information platform of the Ocular Surface Center Berlin (OSCB-Berlin.org) aims to facilitate the understanding of the functional interactions at the ocular surface and thus also of the mechanisms involved in the complex pathophysiology of dry eye disease and of chronic inflammation. This is the basis for an up-to-date overview of dry eye diagnostic testing and therapy on different levels, which allows an understanding for clinicians and also for patients.