##  [Dry Eye disease](/diseases/dry-eye-disease "Dry Eye disease") 

 Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a lack of quality lubrication that can lead to an inflammatory cycle of the ocular surface.1,2

 ![Dry Eye Disease: a lack of quality lubrication can lead to an inflammatory cycle of the ocular surface](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2022-03/dry-eye-disease.jpg.webp?itok=0OCRrFIm "Dry Eye Disease: a lack of quality lubrication can lead to an inflammatory cycle of the ocular surface")

 

##### Multifactorial disease 2,3

- Involves a range of ocular structures: 
    - Ocular surface (cornea, conjunctiva, accessory lacrimal glands)
    - Meibomian glands
    - Innervation between the ocular surface and meibomian glands

##### Epidemiology

- Prevalence data varies but as many as 5-50% of people could be affected globally4
- Risk factors include age, gender, nutrition, genetic background, disease history and high use of digital screens3,4
- Annual cost to US health system is estimated to be US $3.84 billion4

##### Symptoms and disease burden 3

- Tear film instability
- Ocular discomfort including redness, burning, and stinging
- Visual disturbance
- Potential damage to the ocular surface
- Poorer quality of life (impaired ability to perform day-to-day tasks)

##### Unmet medical needs

- Over-the-counter eye drops, the standard of care for DED, often have limited success in moderate-to-severe DED3,5
- Many DED products have short duration of effect, delayed onset of action and poor patient tolerability6
- Many treatments do not effectively address the signs, symptoms, and underlying pathogenic mechanisms of DED7



 



 

 

 

 

**References**

1. Baudouin C, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2016; 100:300306;
2. Craig JP, et al. Ocul Surf. 2017;15(3):276-283;
3. Messmer EM. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015;112(5):71-82;
4. Stapleton F, et al. Ocul Surf. 2017;15(3):334-365;
5. Kim M, et al. BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2021; 6: e000697;
6. Shen Lee B, et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2020; 14:119-126;
7. Aragona P, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2021;105(4):446-453.