ARTIFICIAL TEAR SUPPLEMENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Main Article Content
Keywords
artificial tears, dry eye disease, tear film instability, tear deficiency, ocular surface, contact lenses, symptom relief
Abstract
Artificial tears are fundamental in managing dry eye disease (DED), providing symptomatic relief and supporting ocular surface health. Beyond lubrication, they promote corneal healing, reduce inflammation, aid in treating keratitis and conjunctivitis, and facilitate contact lens rewetting and foreign body removal. Variability in formulations, dosing regimens, and patient responses necessitates a systematic evaluation of their clinical effectiveness.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies published between 2015 and 2024. Eligible studies assessed the efficacy of artificial tears in DED patients, reporting outcomes such as symptom relief, objective clinical measures, formulation characteristics, dosing regimens, and treatment responses across various DED subtypes.
Results: Artificial tears consistently yielded significant improvement in subjective symptoms within one month, with most studies recommending four-times-daily dosing. Objective measures, including ocular surface staining and tear film stability, showed progressive improvement with continued use. Combination formulations demonstrated greater efficacy than single-agent products. Polyethylene glycol-based tears outperformed those containing carboxymethylcellulose or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. High-concentration liposomal formulations were particularly effective in patients with evaporative DED. However, heterogeneity in study design, classification criteria, disease severity grading, and adherence reporting limited the generalizability of findings.
Conclusion: Artificial tears provide effective short-term symptom relief and may improve objective clinical signs with sustained use. Treatment should be individualized based on DED subtype and patient-specific factors. If symptoms persist beyond one month, escalation to alternative or adjunctive therapies is recommended.
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Dr. Rucha Harish Gulhane
Associate Professor at Department of Ophthalmology Dr. Panjabrao Alias Deshmukh Memorial Medical College & Hospital, Amravati, Maharashtra, India.
Dr Shraddha P. Tatte
Assistant Professor at Department of Ophthalmology Dr. Panjabrao Alias Deshmukh Memorial Medical College & Hospital, Amravati, Maharashtra, India.
Dr Smita K. Kadu
Professor and Head of Department Ophthalmology Dr. Panjabrao Alias Deshmukh Memorial Medical College & Hospital, Amravati, Maharashtra, India.