TY - JOUR
T1 - Increasing importance of dry eye syndrome and the ideal artificial tear
T2 - Consensus views from a roundtable discussion
AU - Asbell, Penny A.
N1 - Funding Information:
The publication of consensus views from this round-table discussion is sponsored by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. Financial Disclosure: Dr. Asbell has received research grants from Alcon Inc., Allergan Inc., and Paragon Vision Sciences and serves on speakers’ bureaus for Alcon Inc., Allergan, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc., and Santen Inc. Editorial support for this manuscript has been provided by Medical Action Communications.
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - Background: Dry eye syndrome is a highly prevalent, yet largely under diagnosed, condition that can substantially affect quality of life. Left untreated, dry eye is associated with chronic eye pain and increased risk of ocular surface disease. Current demographic changes and lifestyle factors indicate that the dry eye syndrome patient population will increase significantly, ensuring that general practitioners and ophthalmic clinicians alike will experience more patients presenting with dry eye symptoms. Greater public and practitioner awareness of emerging research, technologies, and therapies is crucial to ensuring appropriate interventions to meet specific patient needs and result in clinically favorable outcomes. Roundtable assembly: In August 2005, a team of ocular surface experts convened for a 1-day roundtable session to discuss the latest information on diagnosing and treating dry eye syndrome and real-world issues in artificial tear therapy, including preservative use. Roundtable discussion: The discussion centered on the mild to moderate dry eye patient and critical features of the ideal artificial tear, which are preservative-free formulation, protection from microbial contamination, cost-effective, non-blurring, and easy to use. Products that match this profile have the advantage of being able to benefit the myriad of patients who comprise the dry eye syndrome population. Ocular surface health should always remain a top priority. Preferred Practice Pattern Dry Eye Syndrome Medical Treatment guidelines should be modified to recommend the use of preservative-free formula artificial tear products for all levels of dry eye conditions in consideration of the medical benefit they offer to dry eye syndrome sufferers. Conclusion: The growing prevalence of dry eye syndrome demands increased attention. Further research, enhanced diagnostic tests, increased use of preservative-free artificial tear formulations as first-line therapy, greater patient-practitioner interaction, and patient education are warranted.
AB - Background: Dry eye syndrome is a highly prevalent, yet largely under diagnosed, condition that can substantially affect quality of life. Left untreated, dry eye is associated with chronic eye pain and increased risk of ocular surface disease. Current demographic changes and lifestyle factors indicate that the dry eye syndrome patient population will increase significantly, ensuring that general practitioners and ophthalmic clinicians alike will experience more patients presenting with dry eye symptoms. Greater public and practitioner awareness of emerging research, technologies, and therapies is crucial to ensuring appropriate interventions to meet specific patient needs and result in clinically favorable outcomes. Roundtable assembly: In August 2005, a team of ocular surface experts convened for a 1-day roundtable session to discuss the latest information on diagnosing and treating dry eye syndrome and real-world issues in artificial tear therapy, including preservative use. Roundtable discussion: The discussion centered on the mild to moderate dry eye patient and critical features of the ideal artificial tear, which are preservative-free formulation, protection from microbial contamination, cost-effective, non-blurring, and easy to use. Products that match this profile have the advantage of being able to benefit the myriad of patients who comprise the dry eye syndrome population. Ocular surface health should always remain a top priority. Preferred Practice Pattern Dry Eye Syndrome Medical Treatment guidelines should be modified to recommend the use of preservative-free formula artificial tear products for all levels of dry eye conditions in consideration of the medical benefit they offer to dry eye syndrome sufferers. Conclusion: The growing prevalence of dry eye syndrome demands increased attention. Further research, enhanced diagnostic tests, increased use of preservative-free artificial tear formulations as first-line therapy, greater patient-practitioner interaction, and patient education are warranted.
KW - Artificial tears
KW - Dry eye syndrome
KW - Ocular surface
KW - Preservative-free
KW - Preservatives
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33751244206&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1185/030079906X132640
DO - 10.1185/030079906X132640
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17076975
AN - SCOPUS:33751244206
SN - 0300-7995
VL - 22
SP - 2149
EP - 2157
JO - Current Medical Research and Opinion
JF - Current Medical Research and Opinion
IS - 11
ER -