New Treatment for Severe Dry Eye Disease Promising in Early Clinical Trials

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May 7, 2019

Cornea Corneal Conditions Dry Eye Immunology

Clinical Research

Grantee

Participants in a phase I/II clinical trial of a new enzyme-based treatment for severe dry eye disease experienced reduced signs of disease and discomfort, according to a paper in Translational Vision Science and Technology.

The trial compared eye drops containing a biosynthetic form of an enzyme called DNase with eye drops without the enzyme. DNase breaks up nucleic acid-based material on the surface of the eye.

"Participants in the trial who used the drops with DNase reported less eye discomfort and their corneas were healthier,” said Dr. Sandeep Jain, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences in the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and principal investigator of the clinical trial.