Dry Eye Treatment

Question 1

What are the lipid based ATs used for lipid layer deficiency?

Answer 1

Refresh Optive Advanced

Systane Balance

Question 2

What are the aqueous based ATs used for dry eye?

Answer 2

Blink tears, FreshKote, Optive, Systane Ultra

Question 3

What is the “three-pronged” approach to dry eye treatment?

Answer 3

1) lipid based AT as initial and maintenance therapy
2) corticosteroid to suppress ocular surface inflammation (loteprednol) in pulse-step fashion: QID x 2 weeks, BID x 4 weeks, STOP; then if necessary, pulse dose of 1-2 weeks QID
3) essential fatty acids (fish, krill or flaxseed)

Question 4

When is punctual occlusion an acceptable dry eye treatment?

Answer 4

after 2-4 week introduction therapy of corticosteroid suppression of ocular surface inflammation