title: Dry eye: an inflammatory ocular disease.
abstract: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dry eye, is a common ocular disease prompting millions of individuals to seek ophthalmological care. Regardless of the underlying etiology, dry eye has been shown to be associated with abnormalities in the pre-corneal tear film and subsequent inflammatory changes in the entire ocular surface including the adnexa, conjunctiva and cornea. Since the recognition of the role of inflammation in dry eye, a number of novel treatments have been investigated designed to inhibit various inflammatory pathways. Current medications that are used, including cyclosporine A, corticosteroids, tacrolimus, tetracycline derivatives and autologous serum, have been effective for management of dry eye and lead to measurable clinical improvement.
authors.affiliation: Ocular Surface Diseases & Dry Eye Clinic, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hessen
authors.affiliation: Ocular Surface Diseases & Dry Eye Clinic, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Esen Karamursel
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Akpek
keywords: Dry Eye; Inflammation; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca; Sjӧgren’s Syndrome; Treatment