What is dry eye?
Dry eye occurs when the quantity and/or quality of tears fails to keep the surface of the eye adequately lubricated.
Experts estimate that dry eye affects millions of adults in the United States. The risk of developing dry eye increases with advancing age.
Women have a higher prevalence of dry eye compared with men.
How is dry eye treated?
People experiencing dry eye symptoms should consult an eye care professional to determine the cause, which guides treatment strategy.
Change medications. Consult a physician about switching medications to alternative ones that are not associated with dry eye. This may alleviate dry eye symptoms.
Over-the-counter (OTC) topical medications. Mild dry eye symptoms may be treated with over-the-counter medications such as artificial tears, gels, and ointments.
Environmental and lifestyle changes. Cutting back on-screen time and taking periodic eye breaks may help. Closing the eyes for a few minutes, or blinking repeatedly for a few seconds, may replenish basal tears and spread them more evenly across the eye. Sunglasses that wrap around the face and have side shields that block wind and dry air can reduce symptoms in windy or dry conditions.
In cases of Meibomian gland dysfunction, warm lid compresses and scrubs may be helpful.
Smoking cessation and limiting exposure to secondhand smoke also may help.
Prescription dry eye medications. Cyclosporine and lifitegrast are the only prescription medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating dry eye. Corticosteroid eye drops also may be prescribed short-term to reduce eye inflammation.
Devices. FDA-approved devices provide temporary relief from dry eye by stimulating glands and nerves associated with tear production.
Surgical options. Punctal plugs made of silicone or collagen may be inserted by an eye care professional to partially or completely plug the tear ducts at the inner corners of the eye to keep tears from draining from the eye. In severe cases, surgical closure of the drainage ducts by thermal punctal cautery may be recommended to close the tear ducts permanently.
OCS-02: The Potential of topical anti-TNFα therapy for ophthalmic indications
The compound, named OCS-02, is based on a proprietary single-chain antibody fragment technology specifically designed for topical delivery. Efficacy and safety were evaluated in three clinical trials including two controlled studies under IND. The studies demonstrated a promising profile for treating inflammatory conditions of the anterior segment of the eye including Uveitis and Dry Eye Disease.