NEARLY 16 MILLION Americans suffer from dry eye disease, according to a 2019 study by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. As dry eye becomes more common, addressing it allows ECPs to build a treatment specialty within their practice. LipiFlow and Restasis are the most well-known treatments but recently more heating devices, like TearCare and Systane iLux, have come on the market. Some treatments focus on reversing or managing a condition that’s causing dry eye. Others improve tear quality. The many products available cover prescription eye drops, to intense pulse light therapy, to punctal plugs.
TearCare
TearCare is a blink-assisted device that applies heat to the eyelids.
(877) 266-1144 | tearcare.com
Alcon
Systane lubricant eye drops deliver dry eye relief and hydration, and protect against tear evaporation.
(800) 241 5999 | systane.myalcon.com
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System heats away obstructions caused by meibomian gland disease and comes with a LipiScan device.
(800) 874 5278 | jnjvisionpro.com
Sun Pharma
CEQUA combines cyclosporine with NCELL technology.
(609) 720-9200 | sunpharma.com
Lumenis
OptiLight is the first and only IPL device approved by the FDA for the treatment of dry eye.
(877) 586-3647 | lumenis.com/optilight
Lacrivera
The VeraPlug FlexFit Punctal Occluder allows for simple insertion.
(855) 857-0518 | lacrivera.com
Bausch + Lomb
Biotrue Hydration Boost Lubricant Eye Drops are preservative-free.
(800) 828-9030 | bausch.com
Regener-Eyes
A biologic ophthalmic eye drop that aids eye lubrication.
(877) 206-0706 | regenereyes.com
Allergan
Restasis treats chronic dry eyes by helping to make more real tears.
(844) 469-8327 | restasis.com
Smart Ways to Sell Dry Eye Products and Treatments to Your Patients
Casey Claypool, ODEmpire Eye Physicians, Spokane Valley, WA
We treat dry eyes proactively and preventatively. About 80% of the time the untreated dry eye patient thinks their symptoms are due to allergies, computer use, old CLs or ill-fitting glasses. We start with technician education. They provide a baseline during evaluation and show the patient meibography visuals using J&J’s LipiScan. Then the doctor checks gland production. Most patients have meibomian gland disease which we treat with LipiFlow and intense pulse light therapy. LipiFlow is my favorite in-office treatment; it’s convenient and the most efficacious at treating the underlying cause quickly. I also prescribe drops like Restasis and Cequa, topical steroids, omega-3 supplements, and oral anti-inflammatories. We schedule follow-ups to ensure patients are compliant and improving.
Vin T. Dang, ODFAAO, Empire Eye and Laser Center, Bakersfield, CA
We first do a comprehensive, dilated eye exam on the patient to identify any issues. For example, they may say their eyes are burning and they’ve been using artificial tears but they’re not working. If we find inflammation, I provide a topical steroid and ask them to come back within a month. Then, with a more specialized dry eye workup, I will do a detailed slit lamp exam, vital dyes staining and meibography. Treatment will depend on the outcome of these. In the most simplistic definition, I tell the patients that there are three different types of dry eye: aqueous tear deficiency, inflammation, and meibomian gland disease. I prescribe Cequa as a treatment if I determine there’s inflammation with an aqueous deficiency component.