We’re focused on therapies for the ocular surface beginning with dry eye disease
Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial chronic disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, resulting in pain, visual impairment, tear film hyperosmolarity and instability, inflammation and corneal wounding.1 More than 340 million adults globally and approximately 34 million adults in the United States are estimated to suffer from DED.2,3
Patients with DED are also more susceptible to eye infections and damage to the surface of the eye (cornea). DED is characterized by a reduction in tear volume, rapid breakup of the tear film, and/or an increase in the evaporative properties of the tear film layer. Chronic symptoms of DED include a scratchy sensation (foreign body sensation), stinging or burning, episodes of excess tearing that follow periods of dryness, discharge, pain, and redness in the eye. In addition, patients with dry eye disease often experience blurred vision as the cornea and the tear film are responsible for 65% to 75% of the eye’s focusing power. DED affects daily life, including reading and driving at night, and has been associated with depression and migraines. Underlying DED can limit patients’ ability to tolerate contact lenses and impacts patient satisfaction with post-op cataract and refractive patients. Despite the large prevalence of dry eye and the burden of the disease, there remains a significant unmet need for effective therapies.