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New therapies for dry eye attack disease mechanism
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MADRID, Spain — Drug therapies targeting the pathology of dry eye will be the next form of preferred treatment, according to one surgeon.
“New therapies will address etiopathogenic factors such as chronic inflammation,” said Margarita Calonge, MD, of Spain.
Traditional therapies, such as artificial tears, treat only the symptoms of dry eye disease and contain some drawbacks, she said. For instance, preservatives in artificial tears, the most popular therapy, may be toxic. Dr. Calonge recommended using preservative-free artificial tears instead to alleviate some of those concerns. Administration of pilocarpine also can have side effects from the oral therapy and is not realistic once the disease progresses, she added.
New therapies, which intervene with the pathology of dry eye disease, include anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-inflammatory hormones. Such therapies will be available in Europe soon, she predicted.
Oral doxycycline and topical cyclosporine are being used for dry eye disease and other ocular inflammations such as blepharitis. Topical androgens are being investigated as well, she said.
Questions about dry eye disease still remain, however. For instance, when should physicians intervene with medical treatment and for how long is still being debated, Dr. Calonge said.