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News
Forget one-size-fits-all dry eye treatment — a new driver-based approach is gaining traction. At the AAO meeting, Dr. Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill outlined how clinicians should match therapies to three distinct dry eye phenotypes rather than relying on severity staging. The shift, backed by TFOS DEWS III, could mean more targeted, effective care for patients.
Dry eye disease is getting a treatment makeover. At the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Cornea Subspecialty Day, Dr. Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill made the case for moving away from severity-based staging toward a driver-matched approach — one that groups patients by phenotype and tailors therapy accordingly. This shift is endorsed by the latest TFOS DEWS III framework.
Dr. Ni Dhubhghaill identified three core phenotypes: "Stain" (aqueous deficiency and surface cell damage), "Flame" (lid margin and meibomian inflammation), and "Numb" (reduced or aberrant corneal sensation). Each calls for a distinct treatment toolkit — from preservative-free drops and punctal plugs for "Stain" patients, to warm compresses and T-cell modulators for "Flame," to cenegermin and serum tears for the often-overlooked "Numb" group.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: A phenotype-first approach helps clinicians avoid trial-and-error prescribing, getting patients to the right therapy faster and improving outcomes in a condition that affects millions worldwide.
