OVERVIEW

Dry Eye Disease: Advancing Neurostimulatory Therapies For Tear Dysfunction is organized by Healio, Vindico Medical Education.

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, September 5, 2025, to September 4, 2026.

Description:
Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic, multifactorial condition that affects the tear film and ocular surface, leading to persistent discomfort, visual disturbances, and a significant decline in quality of life for millions of patients. Dysfunction of the lacrimal functional unit (LFU)—which includes the ocular surface, lacrimal glands, and neural pathways—disrupts normal tear production and stability, creating a vicious cycle of inflammation and damage. While artificial tears and therapies targeting inflammation or tear evaporation are common first-line treatments, few options directly address impaired tear production. Neurostimulation therapies, including both pharmacologic agents and electromechanical devices, offer a novel approach to naturally stimulate tear secretion. These emerging treatments aim to bypass the damaged ocular surface and restore tear film balance. In this CE activity, expert faculty review the rationale for targeting neuronal pathways, identify current treatments, and evaluate the latest evidence on neurostimulatory agents for DED.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Review the rationale for targeting neuronal pathways for the management of patients with DED.
Identify the limitations of current treatments for the management of patients with DED and the need for new agents.
Apply the latest evidence to the use of neurostimulatory agents for the management of patients with DED.