Medical Treatment for Dry Eye in Japan

The etiology of dry eye has not been clarified. In the United States, the inflammation theory is supported as the main cause of dry eye, whereas the Asia Dry Eye Society has identified tear instability as the main cause. Based on this tear instability concept, the P2Y2 antagonist Diquas and the mucin secretagogue Mucosta were developed and launched in Japan over the last 5 years, and they have been widely prescribed to patients with dry eye. Moreover, Diquas has also been launched in other Asian countries, such as Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. This report summarizes the efficacy and characteristics of these two eye drops to improve our understanding of dry eye.