Dry Eye Clinical Trials 2022

What Are Dry Eye Clinical Trials?

Dry eye syndrome, or DES, is a condition that affects over 16 million in the United States alone. Dry eye syndrome is characterized by an inability to produce enough moisture or lubrication for the eyes, which can lead to discomfort and inflammation of the eye. This inflammation can, in turn, lead to damage to the eye or visual impairment.

There are several causes of dry eye disease. Diagnosed patients generally have tears that don't effectively lubricate their eyes. Alternatively, tears that evaporate too quickly to be absorbed by the eye and glands that under-produce moisture and lubrication can also lead to Dry eye syndrome.

Currently, clinical trials for dry eyes are being undertaken to better understand the condition and, as a result, how to better treat and manage it within patients.

Why Is Dry Eye Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

Dry eye syndrome has several risk factors, including gender, age, and health. Patients with dry eye syndrome are typically over fifty, and the condition is more common among women.

Over sixty percent of women are diagnosed with dry eye because it is theorized that low testosterone and high estrogen levels may contribute to developing the condition. It can also be triggered by a lack of vitamin A and autoimmune diseases.

Dry eye clinical trials, like all conditions and illnesses, are essential for medical professionals and researchers to better understand potential causes, diagnostics, and treatments. Due to the prevalence of this condition, learning more about it is vital for advancing dry eye syndrome research within the medical field.

In time, researchers hope to find a curative treatment that may help patients improve their quality of life and eliminate the condition altogether.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available For Dry Eye?

Several treatments for dry eye are available, including multiple medications and surgeries. However, the treatment offered to patients depends on the severity of the condition. Some patients may experience mild to moderate symptoms, while others have more extreme or severe symptoms.

For mild cases, patients are prescribed medications or eye drops that may help them to manage their condition. Similarly, some patients may stifle their symptoms with simple lifestyle changes. On the other hand, more severe cases are generally treated with surgeries or plugs that may close or restrict the tear ducts.

Most dry eye clinical trials are important for furthering research into the condition, trying new medications and treatments, improving diagnostic tests, and refining diagnostic criteria.

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Dry Eye?

Dry eyes affect over sixty percent of aging women but are also diagnosed as a comorbidity with other autoimmune diseases. The prevalence of this condition has led to continued research that has brought a few crucial breakthroughs to light. These breakthroughs include:

2022: Comprehensive Etiologies – Over the years, clinical trials have profoundly impacted the understanding of dry eye syndrome and its causes. These causes, also known as etiology, have evolved over time thanks to findings of clinical trials and have led to more efficient diagnostic procedures. These etiologies have advanced the diagnostic abilities of medical professionals across the world.

2022: Symptom Management – In 2022, the Seoul National University College of Medicine and the University of Manchester found a potential treatment for suppressing or relieving severe dry eye syndrome symptoms. The trial used a topical application of the TSG-6 polypeptide to reduce corneal lesions and other symptoms, where half the trial group saw positive results.