Dry eye syndrome – are drops enough?

As eye care professionals we have to help patients with many conditions, dry eye syndrome (DES) being one of the more frequent issues that come up. The condition is far more prevalent in the older population and with the average life expectancy on the rise it is hard to see the condition disappearing any time soon.

Contact lens wear increases the chances of dry eye syndrome, with a massive 35 per cent of wearers reporting symptoms.1 The most common treatment for DES is lubricating eye drops, which are effective but need to be used throughout the day and do not address any underlying causes. Could there be another way to treat patients who suffer with dry eyes that would not only remove the need for frequent drops but also improve other aspects of health at the same time?