Medical Management of Dry Eye

Abstract

Despite numerous remarkable advances in our understanding of the mechanisms behind the development of dry eye, medical treatment frequently continues to be frustrating. Often, patient symptoms and measurable clinical signs do not correlate. Moreover, due largely to an imperfect understanding of dry eye, today’s treatments can often seem inadequate and unpredictable. However, it is nonetheless possible to have rational therapy based on a systematic approach to the recognition of the disease and establishment of treatment objectives based on currently recognized hallmarks of dry eye. In addition to this, with a better understanding of the properties and actions of currently available pharmacologic agents, good clinical outcomes may consistently be obtained.