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The latest in drug and technology developments and updates from August 2025.

Monthly pipeline update: An August news roundup

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Catch up on the top stories in optometry during the week of August 25-August 29.

Takeaways from this week in optometry: August 25 - August 29

In this podcast, experts John D. Gelles, OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FCLSA, FSLS, FBCLA; and John Hovanesian, MD, FACS; discuss the importance of comprehensive strategies when performing corneal sensitivity testing in patients suspected of having neurotrophic keratitis (NK).

NK Insights: An Interactive Corneal Sensitivity Testing Workshop

Vision insurance coverage was also noted in the report as higher among younger and higher-income Canadians.

New report from The Vision Council finds rising eye examination rates in Canada

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With dry eye disease (DED) becoming increasingly more prevalent, eye care providers are finding it more important than ever to discuss its side effects and associated risk factors with patients.

A revealing survey released by Bausch + Lomb, the State of Dry Eye, in early July elicited many reactions from practice owners and dry eye experts alike. The survey included participants that have both experienced dry eye symptoms and been diagnosed with DED and those that have not. Data collected from the survey found that not only does dry eye impact quality of life for a majority of those diagnosed, but participants were also largely unaware of the severity and symptoms of dry eye.

Adam Ramsey, OD, of Socialite Vision, said patients may not know the latest information about DED because they try to mitigate their symptoms alone without the recommendations of their eye care provider, or may not be forthcoming about their DED concerns. “Access to care is one of most pivotal parts of eye care that needs to be addressed the most,” he said. “Patients a lot of times feel like they can try and solve their dry eye issues with over-the-counter products alone, but they are quite confused on which ones to use. They’re not sure about the validity, they’re not sure about the success rate of the products that are available to them over-the-counter.”

With 1 of the findings from the survey that dry eye patients feel that they have to give up certain hobbies or daily activities to relieve their dry eye symptoms, Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, FAAO, of Smart Eye Care, said that education plays an important role to let patients know that changing daily activity may be a last resort. ”That might be true for some occasions, but really that conversation should be with an eye care provider,” she said. “More often than not, with as much innovation and treatment options as we have, you shouldn’t have to give up the things that you love because we do have the tools to manage dry eye”

Gabby Marshall, OD, past president of the Great Western Council of Optometry, said that better public knowledge regarding DED starts with stressing the importance of underlying systemic etiologies to optometric students. “Dry eye disease is often a result of systemic inflammation and while we know that, it's a challenging concept for the public, especially when they want a quick fix,” she said.

Kelly Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, dean and professor at The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, said that the most striking finding was that many patients in the survey experienced dry eye so severe that they could “hear themselves blink.” “This isn’t a symptom we as clinicians query, but I think it is very identifiable to patients,” she said. “In the normal state, there is no awareness of the eyes—you can’t feel them, similar to the lack of awareness when wearing pants or a shirt. But if there is a wound on the arm for example, a shirt would cause a negative sensation. Asking patients if they have awareness of their eyes, and when, may help determine how severe the dry eye might be and what kind of treatment could help.”

Quint said that this finding is also compelling in that some participants treat these symptoms as the norm. “When you think about how that impacts your daily activities and really you shouldn’t have to think about your eyes,” she said. “If anybody has to think about their eyes that’s kind of a red flag that maybe there’s something that we can do there to improve upon things a little bit more.”

Nichols continued on to state that the patients’ inclination to change routines in their daily lives is also telling of the impacts of DED. “While data showing an impact of dry eye on quality of life isn’t new, the high percentage of dry eye patients in this survey (67%) that have changed something, like discontinuing contacts, stopping wearing make-up, or reducing screen time is also something clinicians should ask patients,” she said. “What a patient has given up because of dry eye is just as important as what a patient has tried to treat the condition.”

Additionally, Ben Casella, OD, FAAO, chief optometric editor for 

said that accurate diagnoses of DED and educating patients starts with listening to them. “Before we begin thinking about educating our patients, we first have to listen not only to them, but to their eyes as well,” he said. “Most patients don't come in complaining of their eyes actually being dry. Transient blur, watery eyes, gritty eyes, redness, contact lens intolerance, and fatigue with digital devices merit special attention, but the eyes can tell us things during the course of the exam. During a refraction, the phrase, ‘Hang on and let me blink a couple of times,’ speaks volumes to the integrity of the tear film and its coverage of the ocular surface. By listening, we can make more accurate diagnoses of dry eye disease, which is actually a family of diseases based on underlying cause and treatment modalities”

Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, owner and founder of BeSpoke Vision, also added that questionnaires have proven to be useful assets to be sure that patients are screened properly and thoroughly. “Take the opportunity to really screen each patient in your chair for dry eye by utilizing a questionnaire – I use SPEED, checking meibomian gland functionality, and using vital dye to asses corneal health.,” she said. “Our patients are looking for answers and we need to empower ourselves to help.”

In terms of tips for diagnosing DED, Casella said that respecting and understanding the complexity of DED goes a long way. “One of my go-to education pearls is my conveying the fact that dry eye is more complex than simply, ‘if it's wet, dry it, and, if it's dry, wet it.’ As well, setting goals and appropriate timelines for treatment is of the utmost importance. For many dry eye patients, it took a long time for their eyes to get that way, and it may take a minute to see improvement,” he said. “If this is understood upfront, then there will be less impatience along the road to better teat film function. Lastly, there is no silver bullet for dry eye disease. It is a multifactorial disease, and our patients are multifactorial individuals. Time is on our side, however. We need to collect our data, have meaningful discussion with our patients, sit back, and tailor therapy accordingly. Don't rush it, and don't fall into the ‘Here's a bottle of tears; I'll see you whenever your vision benefit pays for another exam’ practice modality.

Resources for education also play a role in patient knowledge and optometry’s role in mitigating DED. American Optometric Association (AOA) President Steven Reed, OD, said that given the believed correlation between dry eyes and increased screen time, the AOA has taken on a number of initiatives to help educate patients. “We know that just two hours of screen time each day can cause many symptoms, including dry eyes and blurred vision. The AOA and doctors of optometry across the country are actively providing guidance and counsel to patients, helping them understand the impact their daily environment has on their eyes – and how to care for them,” he said. “Earlier this year, we partnered with Deloitte Economics to assess the impact of screen time and determined that more than 104 million Americans are exposed to excessive screen time, yet 32 million hadn’t seen a doctor in the past year. From making sure our doctors have the right resources to counsel their patients on dry eye and its cause to encouraging patients to go to their AOA doctor of optometry through our Eye Deserve More initiative, we will continue to identify ways to address the pressures today’s digital and environmental world place on our eye and vision health.”

Millions of Americans experience dry eye symptoms, yet new national survey shows sufferers struggle to find relief. News release. Bausch + Lomb. July 8, 2024. Accessed August 7, 2024. 

https://ir.bausch.com/press-releases/millions-americans-experience-dry-eye-symptoms-yet-new-national-survey-shows

The survey’s results were released by Bausch + Lomb last month and revealed that many participants did not know their symptoms were dry eye-related.

Optometrists, organizations provide insight for State of Dry Eye survey

Ken DauSchmidt, founder and CEO of Tear Restore, Inc., shares information about TearResore Mask, the first open-eye warm compress treatment.

Vision Expo West

Podcast: TearRestore CEO, Ken DauSchmidt, reviews new open-eye warm compress treatment

Chief Optometric Editor Ben Casella, OD, FAAO, talks with Deanna Alexander, OD, FAAO, chair of the Alliance for Patient Safety, about recent changes from the FTC on contact lenses.

Click HERE to read this interview's transcript

Dr. Alexander, chair of the Alliance for Patient Safety, discusses recent changes from the FTC on contact lenses.

Podcast: Alliance for Patient Safety chair talks contact lenses and the FTC

New findings confirm TearCare's long-term effectiveness for dry eye disease, showing significant patient improvements with minimal treatments over 2 years.

SAHARA trial demonstrates sustained TearCare benefits for evaporative dry eye

TearCare is associated with greater health utility over time but also resulted in significant cost savings compared with CsA.

Sight Sciences releases cost-utility analysis comparing TearCare and cyclosporine 0.05% in dry eye

Due to ubiquity, optometrists tend to undertreat patients with dry eye.

Embracing dry eye

The solution was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in late May 2025.

Alcon commercially launches Tryptyr (acoltremon ophthalmic solution) 0.003% for signs and symptoms of DED in the US

The expanded clinical suite at Stanton Optical will include keratography, optical coherence tomography, and personalized therapy options for patients with dry eye.

Stanton Optical integrates new dry eye therapy, retinal imaging technologies to care arsenal in 35 locations

Selina McGee, OD, shares what she wants to see in future State of Dry Eye surveys and how this year's results will affect her patient care.

State of Dry Eye survey: Patients look for consistent, durable dry eye relief

Recently, Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, sat down with 

to discuss critical insights from the recent 

 by Bausch + Lomb and what these findings mean for patient care.

, McGee highlighted how 88% of prescription-treated patients wished they had started treatment sooner, underscoring the importance of proactive intervention and clear patient education. In P

, she discussed the concerning reality that 40% of sufferers wait 6 months or more before seeing an eye doctor, emphasizing the need for timely diagnosis, early treatment, and consistent follow-up to improve outcomes and prevent prolonged suffering.

Now, in this final segment, McGee dives deeper into what patients truly want from their dry eye treatment, revealing the crucial role of durability, the importance of connecting clinical data with real-world needs, and how these insights can transform patient conversations and care strategies. 

A critical insight from the recent State of Dry Eye survey is clear: patients want treatments that work—and keep working. 71% of respondents emphasized the importance of a product that provides consistent relief over time, and 50% specifically want treatment to address eye dryness.

“We all want a treatment for something yesterday,” McGee noted. “But when patients say they want consistent relief, they’re really talking about durability.” This demand for durability isn’t just about immediate symptom relief; it’s about sustained improvement that patients can rely on day after day.

McGee emphasized the importance of connecting clinical study data with patient expectations. Clinical trials often focus on measurable outcomes like symptom reduction over set time frames—42 days, 56 days, or even 360 days. However, unless these durability outcomes resonate with patients’ lived experiences, a critical disconnect remains.

She explained that when clinical durability data align with patient priorities, it creates a powerful synergy. “When the patient is saying, ‘I want consistent relief,’ and I have a clinical study that shows durability, those marry together beautifully,” she said. This alignment fosters greater trust, satisfaction, and better outcomes, ultimately benefiting both patients and practitioners.

Improving conversations for better outcomes

Beyond treatment selection, McGee believes this survey data offers a significant opportunity to improve how clinicians engage with patients. By understanding what patients value most, doctors can ask more meaningful and targeted questions during appointments.

“When you have this kind of data, you can ask better questions, more pointed questions,” she explained. This leads to earlier diagnosis, avoids delays in treatment, and ensures patients don’t end up in the 88% who later wished they had started prescription therapy sooner.

Moving toward patient-centered dry eye care

McGee urges her colleagues to use survey insights as a guide to not only improve treatment plans but also deepen the patient-provider relationship. By focusing on what patients truly want — durable, consistent relief — clinicians can move beyond simply treating symptoms to truly transforming quality of life.

Ultimately, integrating clinical durability data with patient-driven preferences creates a win-win scenario. Patients get the relief they’ve been longing for, and clinicians can deliver care that is both scientifically grounded and deeply personalized. With these insights, the future of dry eye management can become more proactive, precise, and patient-centered than ever before.

Videos

Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, shares key takeaways and a personal anecdote relating to the State of Dry Eye survey results

State of Dry Eye Survey highlights need for proactive dry eye care, closer patient followup

In the second part of her discussion on the 

State of Dry Eye Survey from Bausch + Lomb

, Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, emphasized another alarming statistic: 40% of 

 sufferers wait 6 months or longer before visiting an eye doctor, even when experiencing symptoms. 

Results from the State of Dry Eye Survey were released on July 1, 2025. If you missed the first part of McGee's exclusive interview with 

For McGee, this finding underscores an urgent call to action. “We all know with a chronic disease, the longer you wait, the longer the patient suffers,” she explained. Delayed treatment not only extends patient discomfort but can also lead to more advanced disease stages that are harder to manage effectively.

The power of early intervention and listening

McGee shared a recent patient story that vividly illustrated this point. A young woman, frustrated by her ongoing symptoms, self-referred to McGee after seeing 3 other doctors who neither diagnosed nor treated her dry eye. After just 2 months of targeted care, the patient expressed profound gratitude, explaining how treatment had improved her day-to-day life—from using a computer comfortably to regaining confidence in wearing makeup.

“This patient reminded me just how deeply dry eye can affect quality of life,” McGee shared. “Patients often don't realize—or aren't told—how significant this disease is, and they’re waiting far too long for relief.”

According to McGee, these survey insights should inspire eye care professionals to become more proactive in diagnosis and treatment. Whether using over-the-counter products, prescription therapies, or a combination, the goal is to address the underlying disease early and effectively.

She stressed that initial therapy decisions should not be the end point. Instead, providers must follow patients closely, evaluating outcomes and adjusting treatment plans as needed. “If we need to add something, we can say ‘yes, and’ instead of delaying therapy another 6 or 12 months,” McGee explained.

McGee urges clinicians to consider these new data as permission to act boldly on behalf of their patients. By being proactive, they can help prevent extended suffering and support significant improvements in quality of life.

Ultimately, the survey findings tie together an important message: patients want help sooner, they need clear communication, and they benefit greatly from consistent follow-up. With the wide range of treatment options available today, eye care professionals are well-equipped to meet patients where they are and guide them toward meaningful, lasting relief.

Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, shares key takeaways and a personal anecdote relating to the State of Dry Eye survey results.

State of Dry Eye Survey highlights need for proactive dry eye care, closer patient follow-up

Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, shares some statistics on dry eye as outlined in the State of Dry Eye report recently released by Bausch + Lomb.

Reviewing the State of Dry Eye Survey with Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO

newly released State of Dry Eye Survey from Bausch + Lomb

 provides valuable insights into how patients perceive and manage 

. Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, discussed these findings as part of Bausch + Lomb’s “Know Your Dry Eye” campaign.

For McGee, who operates a large dry eye clinic, the results were validating and surprising. One of the most striking data points was that 88% of patients treated with a prescription strongly or somewhat agreed they wished they had started prescription medication for dry eye sooner.

“This was huge for me,” McGee emphasized. “It tells us that patients are not only receptive to earlier intervention but are actually asking for it—whether they say it out loud or not.” She believes these data should give clinicians the confidence to act proactively rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen or for patients to demand treatment.

Widespread misunderstandings about dry eye

Another major takeaway from the survey is that 43% of sufferers mistakenly believe—or are unsure—that dry eye is a temporary condition, and 42% didn’t know or weren’t sure it requires long-term treatment.

According to McGee, these misunderstandings highlight a crucial opportunity to improve patient education. Quoting George Bernard Shaw, "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place," she explained that a single conversation in the exam room is rarely enough.

“We might think we've communicated clearly, but if patients don’t leave understanding that dry eye is a chronic disease requiring ongoing management, we’re missing the mark,” she said.

To address this gap, McGee recommends supporting verbal explanations with written handouts, digital resources, or take-home materials. Additionally, training the entire care team to answer common questions and reinforce key points ensures consistency in messaging.

These strategies can help patients better understand the chronic nature of dry eye and the importance of sustained treatment, leading to improved long-term outcomes.

Ultimately, the survey underscores 2 urgent priorities: act sooner and communicate better. By taking a proactive approach and ensuring patients understand the need for long-term management, clinicians can significantly enhance care and patient satisfaction.

As dry eye disease continues to affect millions, these findings offer a clear path forward for providers committed to delivering truly patient-centered care.

Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, details early symptom relief demonstrated in as early as day 1 during AOA's Optometry's Meeting 2025.

AOA 2025: Perfluorohexyloctane demonstrates early symptom relief and patient satisfaction

Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, an optometrist from Associated Eye Care in Hudson, Wisconsin, presented a research poster about perfluorohexyloctane during the American Optometric Association's Optometry's Meeting 2025. The poster focused on early symptom improvement and patient satisfaction with this treatment for dry eye disease. The study uniquely examined patient improvements during the initial stages of treatment, specifically within the first 2 weeks and even as early as day 1, which differs from many clinical trials that typically assess outcomes at later timepoints like week 2, week 4, or day 90. Key findings from the research include the following:

Patients experienced substantial improvements in all dry eye symptoms

Symptoms addressed included light sensitivity, eye dryness, and burning sensations

These improvements were observed as early as the first day of treatment

Participants found perfluorohexyloctane comfortable and effective

High levels of patient satisfaction were reported throughout the 2-week study period

The research provides clinicians with insights into potential rapid treatment responses

Offers practitioners a better understanding of what patients can expect when using this new treatment

Demonstrates the potential for quick symptomatic relief in dry eye disease management

Lang's professional credentials add weight to the study's credibility. As president of the Intrepid Eye Society and immediate past president of the Anterior Segment Section of the Academy of Optometry, his research carries significant professional authority. The study's primary value lies in its focus on early intervention and patient-centered outcomes. By highlighting potential improvements as quickly as day 1, the research offers hope for patients suffering from dry eye disease, who often seek rapid relief from their symptoms. This research contributes to the evolving understanding of dry eye treatments, emphasizing the importance of not just long-term efficacy but also immediate patient comfort and symptom management.

Conference

Mitch Ibach, OD, FAAO, details the importance to unveiling the underlying cause of dry eye in a CCS 2025 presentation.

CCS 2025: Taking a contemporary approach to dry eye disease with Dr Mitch Ibach

During his presentation titled "Rethinking Dry Eye Disease: A Contemporary Approach to a Complex Condition," Mitch Ibach, OD, FAAO, discussed the prevalence of dry eye disease, a significant ocular condition affecting approximately 18 million patients in the United States - 4 times more than those diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma. Ibach emphasized the growing patient awareness and motivation surrounding dry eye, which distinguishes it from other eye conditions like glaucoma. The key innovation in dry eye treatment is not a single technology, but a more nuanced approach focused on understanding and identifying the underlying causes of dry eye. Ibach advocated for a personalized diagnostic strategy that considers various factors such as systemic conditions, inflammatory versus evaporative dry eye, lacrimal lake volume, and specific patient symptoms and signs.

Diagnostic tools play a crucial role in this approach. Ibach highlighted MMP-9 testing as an example, which helps clinicians determine inflammatory markers and guide treatment decisions through clear, systematic protocols. The goal is to simplify complex diagnostic processes by creating straightforward "if-then" treatment pathways. The presentation also recommends several treatment strategies:

Intense pulse light (IPL) or low-wavelength UV light treatments for patients with ocular rosacea and meibomian gland disease

Moving beyond over-the-counter artificial tears

Developing proficiency with prescription medications

The overarching philosophy is to move away from generic, one-size-fits-all treatments and instead focus on precision medicine. Clinicians should become experts in specific therapies and understand how to match treatments to individual patient needs. Key recommendations include:

Identifying the specific cause of a patient's dry eye

Using prescription therapies strategically

Exploring advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies

Ibach believes that by adopting this comprehensive, targeted approach, eye care providers can significantly improve dry eye management and patient outcomes.

Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FEAOO, ponders what she would like to see develop as both a researcher and a clinician in the dry eye space.

What's on the clinical wishlist for dry eye with Dr Bridgitte Shen Lee

With 26 years of clinical experience and 4 years as a principal investigator, Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FEAOO, sat down with 

to examine the areas of progress still needed from both research- and practice-based perspectives. Shen Lee provided a nuanced view of current challenges and potential future directions in dry eye treatment. From a clinical standpoint, the primary concern is insurance coverage for advanced dry eye treatments. Despite having numerous technological and pharmacological interventions that can significantly improve patient quality of life, insurance limitations often prevent patients from accessing these cutting-edge solutions. As a researcher, Shen Lee emphasized several key areas of potential innovation in dry eye treatment:

Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FEAOO, ponders about what she would like to see develop as both a researcher and a clinician in the dry eye space.

Dry Eye

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