New player in the treatment of dry eyes
An estimated 16 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with dry eye disease. An often chronic ocular disease, dry eye is associated with inflammation that may eventually lead to damage to the surface of the eye.Yet until recently, there has only been two FDA approved prescription eye medications for dry eyes, Restasis and Freshkote. Although many of my patients have found great relief of their dry eye symptoms with one of the aforementioned drops. there are still those whom these drops have not worked well for. For these patients, they continue to try and find relief by using various over-the-counter artificial tear drops.
Recently, the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new eye drop from Shire called Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in adult patients. Xiidra is said to be the only prescription eye drop indicated for the treatment of both signs and symptoms of this condition. As with Restasis, this drop is dosed twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart, one drop in each eye. Shire expects to launch Xiidra in the United States in the third quarter of 2016.
I look forward to having another option for my patients who suffer from chronic dry eye disease.
About Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. It is diagnosed by an eye care professional based on patient reported symptoms, such as eye dryness, overall eye discomfort, stinging, burning, a gritty feeling or fluctuating blurry vision, as well as signs, which can be objectively evaluated by an eye care professional through various tests to determine the presence of dry eye disease. The symptoms of dry eye can interrupt daily activities such as reading, driving, working, using technology, watching TV, and spending time outside in bright light and cold or windy conditions. Aging and gender (female) are recognized as traditional risk factors of dry eye disease while modern risk factors include prolonged digital/computer screen time, contact lens wear and cataract or refractive surgery. Dry eye is an often chronic ocular disease associated with inflammation that may eventually lead to damage to the surface of the eye. Dry eye may be progressive and is a common patient complaint to eye care professionals.
Important Safety Information
The most common side effects of Xiidra include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when the drops are applied to the eyes, and an unusual taste sensation (dysgeusia). To help avoid eye injury or contamination of the solution, do not touch the container tip to your eye or any surface. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using Xiidra and wait for at least 15 minutes before placing them back in your eyes.
Recently, the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new eye drop from Shire called Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in adult patients. Xiidra is said to be the only prescription eye drop indicated for the treatment of both signs and symptoms of this condition. As with Restasis, this drop is dosed twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart, one drop in each eye. Shire expects to launch Xiidra in the United States in the third quarter of 2016.
I look forward to having another option for my patients who suffer from chronic dry eye disease.
About Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. It is diagnosed by an eye care professional based on patient reported symptoms, such as eye dryness, overall eye discomfort, stinging, burning, a gritty feeling or fluctuating blurry vision, as well as signs, which can be objectively evaluated by an eye care professional through various tests to determine the presence of dry eye disease. The symptoms of dry eye can interrupt daily activities such as reading, driving, working, using technology, watching TV, and spending time outside in bright light and cold or windy conditions. Aging and gender (female) are recognized as traditional risk factors of dry eye disease while modern risk factors include prolonged digital/computer screen time, contact lens wear and cataract or refractive surgery. Dry eye is an often chronic ocular disease associated with inflammation that may eventually lead to damage to the surface of the eye. Dry eye may be progressive and is a common patient complaint to eye care professionals.
Important Safety Information
The most common side effects of Xiidra include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when the drops are applied to the eyes, and an unusual taste sensation (dysgeusia). To help avoid eye injury or contamination of the solution, do not touch the container tip to your eye or any surface. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using Xiidra and wait for at least 15 minutes before placing them back in your eyes.