Opinion
Video
Evaluating Treatment Outcomes in Dry Eye Disease
Jai G. Parekh, MD, MBA; and Alexander Kabiri, OD; compare emerging therapies and traditional treatments for dry eye disease.
This is a video synopsis/summary of a Stakeholder Summit involving:
Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA; Jai G. Parekh, MD, MBA; and Alexander Kabiri, OD.
Haumschild asks Parekh to compare recently approved therapies like perfluorohexyloctane and varenicline nasal spray to traditional dry eye disease (DED) treatments. Parekh states the medications expand options to precisely match specific DED subtypes and avoid overtreatment. Perfluorohexyloctane addresses evaporative DED, allowing some patients to replace or reduce anti-inflammatory therapy. The nasal spray suits those unable to use drops. He reiterates tailored combinations for precision medicine, noting most patients should not require all available therapies.
Kabiri discusses the disease spectrum, with compromised corneas at one end requiring specialized treatments to restore ocular surface integrity. However, solely targeting downstream inflammation without replacing absent meibomian gland function has limitations. Adding perfluorohexyloctane addresses this underlying deficiency to prevent progression.
Haumschild subsequently asks which patients benefit most from emerging therapies. Kabiri reviews how clinicians identify aqueous-deficient DED with thin tears vs evaporative DED with poor meibomian gland expression. Patients complaining of watery eyes is suggestive of adequate aqueous, but tear film instability may signal underlying meibomian gland dysfunction. Hence, emerging treatments like perfluorohexyloctane, varenicline, and punctal plugs allow the targeting of specific deficiencies.
Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by AJMCÒ editorial staff.
