Abstract

LIPID-BASED EYE DROP FORMULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF EVAPORATIVE DRY EYES

Sameera Begum*, Hyma Ponnagati

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Abstract

Dry eye is a common and ongoing condition where the eyes don’t produce enough tears, i.e., the quantity and/or quality of tears produced is insufficient. This leads to discomfort, irritation, and sometimes blurry vision. Over time, it can become a persistent problem that is harder to manage if it is left untreated. The primary cause of evaporative dry eyes is abnormal lipid production, which may occur because of meibomian gland dysfunction. This paper focuses on the treatment alternatives that utilize lipids for the treatment of evaporative dry eyes. The main idea behind developing these lipid-containing eye drops is that they aim to mimic the natural lipid layer of the eye. These lipid-containing eyedrops, can help to reduce the symptoms and manage the discomfort caused by evaporative dry eyes more effectively. Tear-film-oriented diagnosis (TFOD) is a method that is used to identify the specific cause of tear film instability. In TFOD the fluorescein breaks-up pattern of tear film plays a crucial role, by analysing how and where the tear film breaks on the eye surface. The lipids commonly used in the commercial formulation of evaporative dry eye treatment include various ionizable cationic lipids, mineral oil, cholesterol, and, PEGylated lipids. This literature suggests that eye drops containing lipids can help to reduce the symptoms of evaporative dry eyes and improve the comfort and quality of life for people who are suffering from this condition.

Keywords: Evaporative dry eye, Lipid containing eye drops, Meibomian gland dysfunction, Lipid layer, Tear film instability.