title: Emerging drugs for the treatment of dry eye disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dry eye disease (DED) is a common, age-related ocular condition that in its mildest forms causes bothersome symptoms of ocular discomfort, fatigue, and visual disturbance that interfere with quality of life and in its more severe forms causes chronic pain and fluctuating vision. Though it is highly prevalent and costs billions of dollars to manage, current treatments have largely been inadequate, making it a frustrating condition, both for physicians and patients alike.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article will cover the recently discovered pathophysiology of DED that has prompted investigators to explore new molecules that target the core mechanisms that drive DED. These include anti-inflammatory/immune-modulatory drugs, secretagogues, lubricant, hormones, and autologous serum. Their potential mechanism of action and data from recent trials on efficacy/safety will be reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The emerging drugs have a vast range of putative mechanisms of action that may not only provide symptomatic relief but may potentially break the vicious cycle of DED and provide long-lasting cure. Current and future research may change our perspective on DED and redefine its treatment algorithms.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, One Gustave L Levy Place, Box 1183, New York, NY 10029, USA. nehagadaria@gmail.com
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gadaria-Rathod
authors.forename: Kyu-In
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Penny A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Asbell
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions