Eyeworld Supplements

therapeutic solutions: Ocular surface disease and episodic flares of dry eye disease 8 | SUPPLEMENT TO EYEWORLD | MAY 2019 Emerging treatment trends "The MPP technology allows the drug to get through the mucin layers of the tear film and ocular surface, to penetrate better, and have better efficacy and safety." —Terry Kim, MD rapid onset and they attack all pathways of inflammation," said Preeya Gupta, MD. "We get quick relief for the patient regardless of etiology." C orticosteroids are rec- ognized as an effective therapeutic option for dry eye flares, but as with all medications, there are pluses and minuses. Mean- while, as eyecare providers become more aware of the pervasive nature of flares among their dry eye patients, other exciting treatment op- tions are emerging. Treatment review Corticosteroids have several characteristics that make them a good choice to treat dry eye flares. "Corticosteroids have a With respect to corti- costeroids, the two intra- ocular complications that are a source of concern for clinicians are cataracts and glaucoma. These concerns are reduced in the case of loteprednol etabonate, a corticosteroid that is thought to have the greatest safety and efficacy combination. "I see loteprednol as the ideal steroid for dry eye therapy," said Edward Holland, MD. "It is the only C-20 ester steroid that we have, and we know that ester steroids have a much better intraocular pres- sure elevation profile than all the other steroids, which are ketone steroids. In addition, we also know that lotepred- nol is as potent as the other topical steroids. The literature All respondents base dry eye patient treatment decisions on both signs and symptoms. For dry eye patients, what do you primarily base your treatment decision on? Signs 100% 0% 0% Symptoms Both Five out of six respondents strongly agree that artificial tears cannot adequately manage patients experiencing dry eye flares and that the use of nanotechnology increases the efficacy and maintains the safety of traditional medications. Strongly Agree 83% 17% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree How strongly do you agree that: artificial tears cannot adequately manage patients experiencing dry eye flares? the use of nanotechnology increases the efficacy and maintains the safety of traditional medications? • • Following their discussion, the physicians completed a survey on ocular surface disease. Their answers to the survey questions are located throughout this supplement.

• Cover