title: Treatment of Dry Eye Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Review of the etiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of dry eye disease (DED).
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles indexed in PubMed (National Library of Medicine), Iowa Drug Information Service (IDIS), and the Cochrane Reviews and Trials in the last 10 years using the key words "dry eye disease," "dry eye syndrome," "dry eye and treatment." Primary sources were used to locate additional resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight publications were reviewed, and criteria supporting the primary objective were used to identify useful resources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature included practice guidelines, book chapters, review articles, original research articles, and product prescribing information for the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of DED.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DED is one of the most common ophthalmic disorders. Signs and symptoms of DED vary by patient, but may include ocular irritation, redness, itching, photosensitivity, visual blurring, mucous discharge, and decreased tear meniscus or break-up time. Symptoms improve with treatment, but the condition is not completely curable. Treatment includes reducing environmental causes, discontinuing medications that cause or worsen dry eye, and managing contributing ocular or systemic conditions. Most patients use nonprescription tear substitutes, and if these are not sufficient, other treatment is prescribed. These treatments include the ophthalmic anti-inflammatory agent cyclosporine, punctal occlusion, eye side shields, systemic cholinergic agents, and autologous serum tears. This article reviews the etiology, symptoms, and current therapy for DED.
authors: Mercer University College of Pharmacy, Mercer Health Sciences Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors: Leisa L
authors: LL
authors: Marshall
authors: J Michael
authors: JM
authors: Roach
mesh_terms: D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D016572:Cyclosporine