New developments in dry eye treatment

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This study summarizes the management and therapeutic options for treating dry eye disease. Goals of this review is to identify appropriate therapeutic methods for the management of dry eye disease and recommend a sequence or strategy for their application, based on evidence‐based review of the literature. Methods To achieve this a comprehensive review of clinical textbooks and scientific literature was performed and the quality of published evidence graded according to an agreed standard, using objective criteria for clinical and basic research studies. Results There have been tremendous advances in the treatment of dry eye and ocular surface disease in the last decades related to the increase in knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of dry eye. This has led to a paradigm shift in dry eye management from simply lubricating and hydrating the ocular surface with artificial tears to strategies that stimulate natural production of tear constituents, maintain ocular surface epithelial barrier function, and inhibit the inflammatory factors that adversely impact the ability of ocular surface and glandular epithelia to produce tears. Conclusion The authors will present current and future treatment options for dry eye disease.