Gaps in Current Knowledge and Priorities for Future Research in Dry Eye

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Dry eye is a prevalent condition with limited evidence-based treatment guidelines.
• Managing dry eye and researching effective long-term treatments incur significant costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize critical clinical research questions for dry eye management.
• To support the development of evidence-based treatment algorithms for dry eye.

Main Methods:

• Translated existing dry eye practice patterns into researchable questions.
• Utilized a two-round Delphi survey with international dry eye clinicians to rate question importance.
• Mapped prioritized questions to existing systematic reviews.

Main Results:

• 24 out of 58 questions were deemed important by clinicians.
• Topical and systemic treatments were the focus of 16 important questions.
• Existing systematic reviews rarely provided definitive conclusions on treatment effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps exist in the understanding of dry eye treatment options.
• Prioritized research questions should guide future clinical studies in dry eye management.