Emerging Dry Eye Treatment Options (Last Updated: April 2025)

The world of Dry Eye Disease (DED) & Ocular Surface Disease (OSD) is complex, multi-factorial, chronic and progressive. Thankfully, the last decade has brought us a variety of new research and treatment options to provide relief for patients. With a thorough understanding of DED & OSD, a properly trained and experienced dry eye specialist can customize an ideal therapeutic protocol.

At Beverly Hills Optometry: Advanced Dry Eye Center, our philosophy is patient education and empowerment. We take a holistic and root cause approach to managing our patients condition(s). In fact, a majority of our patients respond well to their initial therapeutic plan but some may need adjustments along their journey to success. Below we layout a comprehensive list of non-surgical treatment options that are currently available. 

• In-office Treatments:
  1. MicroBlepharoExfoliation (MBE):
     1. BlephEx
     2. ZEST
     3. NuLids Pro
  2. Advanced Thermal (Heat) Expression/Pulsation:  
     1. Lipiflow,
     2. iLux 2,
     3. TearCare,
     4. Miboflo
  3. OptiLight Intense Pulse Light (IPL) by Lumenis
  4. Meibomian Gland Probing or Maskin Probing
  5. Prokera Cryo-Preserved Amniotic Membrane
  6. Punctal Plugs
     1. Lacrifill HA gel
  7. Scleral Lenses
  8. iLightPro Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) by MDElite
  9. OptiPLUS (NuEra Tight) Radio Frequency (RF) Thermal Treatment by Lumenis
  10. Dilation & Irrigation (D&I)
  11. Rinsada - High Flow Irrigating Lid Retractor
  12. Optivize
  13. OptiLift with Dynamic Muscle Stimulation(DMSt) Technology by Lumenis: for lower eyelid laxity and impaired blink 
• At-Home Treatment Devices:
  1. NuLids Pro (in-office) & NuLids (At-Home) Eyelid Hygiene
  2. iTear100 Neuro-stimulation
• At-Home Advanced Ocular Therapy Eye Drops:
  1. RegenerEyes (Pro vs Lite)
  2. Autologous Serum Tears
  3. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
  4. Mucomyst (N-acetylcysteine) - compounding pharmacy
• Pharmaceuticals:
  1. Prescription Eye Drops (Immunomodulators): Restasis, Cequa, Xiidra, Vevye (below #8)
  2. Prescription Eye Drops (Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories): Eysuvis, Flarex, Lotemax, FML, Klarity-L, Pred Forte, Dexamethasone, Durezol
  3. Tyrvaya Nasal Spray - Neuro-Stimulation of Tears: 
  4. Oxervate Eye Drop – Neurotrophic Keratitis 
  5.  Low Dose Naltexone (LDN) - Neuropathic Corneal Pain
  6. Oral Antibiotic/Steroids: Azithromycin (Zpack), Minocycline, Doxycyline (Oracea or Targadox), Prednisone, Augmentin, Cephalexin
  7. Topical Creams/Gels (external use): Ivermectin 1% (Soolantra), Oxymetazoline 1%, Azelaic Acid 10%, MetroGel, Zilxi (Minocycline  gel), Triple Cream (Ivermectin, Niacinamide, and Oxymetazoline vs Azelaic Acid),  Testosterone Cream. 
  8. FDA Approved (as of 2023): MIEBO eye drop (100% perfluorohexyloctane) which is also sold internationally as EvoTears or Hycosan Shield
  9. FDA Approved (as of 2023): VEVYE eye drop (0.1% cyclosporine ophthalmic solution)
  10. FDA Approved (as of 2023): Xdemvy eye drop (0.25% Lotilaner) Eye drop for Demodex blepharitis
  11. FDA Phase 3: AR-15515 (Acoltremon 0.003%) by Alcon, a topical transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) agonist, is a first-in-class product candidate for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease; the TRPM8 ion channels are expressed on corneal cold thermosensory neurons and are responsible for regulating tear production (most recent studies are COMET-2 and COMET-3)
• Eye Care Products:
  1. Eyelid Hygiene: Optase Tea Tree Oil Wipe/Gel, Avenova HOCL Spray, ZocuShield Gel, Ocusoft or Zoria Wipe/Foam (Original, Plus, Platinum, Oust Demodex), Optase Life Sensitive Eye Makeup Remover
  2. Medical Grade Nutritional Dry Eye Supplements: PRN DE3, HydroEye, MaxiTear, Nordic Naturals ProOmega, EyePromise, B&L Blink NutriTears
  3. Warm compress (OcuSci/Optase/Bruder), moisture chamber googles (TranquilEyes), TearRestore Open Eye mask, Repose (single-use)
  4. Cold Compress mask (Optase)
  5. Preservative-Free Artificial Tears (PFATs): Optase MGD, Retaine MGD, Oasis Tears, Systane Hydration PF, iVizia
  6. Nighttime relief/therapy: HyloNight Vitamin A Ointment, EyeSeal 4.0, SleepTiteSleepRite (Obstructive Sleep Apnea/CPAP, noctural lagophthalmos)
  7. SkinCare/Cosmetics: Eyes Are the Story (mascara/eyeliner/eyeshadow), Twenty/Twenty Beauty (mascara/eyeliner/eyeshadow), Epionce, Oculaire, BeautyCounter, Eminence Organic Skin Care (Stone Crop Gel Wash), Round Lab Birch sunscreen, Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, EltaMD sunscreen, KINeSYS Fragrance Free sunscreen (Limit Retinol/Retin-A/Tretinion products orally or topically especially near the orbital rim). 
  8. Eyelash/Eyelid Serum: Zocular ZocuLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum, TearRestore Winq Refreshing Eyelid Serum, Optase Life Sensitive Eye Daily Renewal Cream, Olaplex Lashbond Building Serum, Dr Loara Devgan Platinum Long Lash, The Ordinary Multi-peptide Lash Serum
  9. Lumify OTC (Eye Whitening) - for occasional use (preservative-free)
  10. Allergy eye drop - Optase Allegro, Lastacaft, Pataday, Patanol, Pazeo, Zaditor, Zerviate
• Lifestyle Consideration:
  1. Anti-inflammatory diet/elimination diet/Whole30 diet/AIP diet, food allergies/sensitives (avoid/limit caffeine, refine sugars, processed foods, dairy, gluten)
  2. Moderate exercise (ie yoga, walking, weight-lifting, swimming, tennis),
  3. Consistent sleep pattern and sleep position,
  4. Stress management (mindnessfulness meditation and breathing exercises),
  5. Managing systemic conditions,
  6. Certain systemic and topical medication side effects,
  7. Control digital device overuse, blink exercises/blink breaks, 20/20/20 rule,
  8. Proper contact lenses habits (consider premium daily, single-use),
  9. Application/removal of cosmetics and avoid toxic ingredients,
  10. Eliminate/limit smoking/alcohol consumption
  11. Humidifier - distilled or filtered water (not tap water) 
• Blood Workup: 
  • Consider full lab workup to rule out systemic conditions: Thyroid Panel (TSH/T3/T4/TSI), Auto-immune (ANA/RF/HLA-B27/SS-A/SS-B), Lipid Panel, Vitamin Deficiencies (A & D), CBC, CMP, CRP, ESR, heavy metal testing (ie mercury), hormone level testing, and Omega-3 Index Basic Test (OmegaQuant),

Modern Treatment Protocols for Common Ocular Surface Diseases such as Demodex Blepharitis, Stye/Chalazion, MGD, Ocular Rosacea, Epiphora (water eyes), and more.

At Beverly Hills Optometry, we are here to serve you and to help you see better, feel better and look better. For a virtual or in-person advanced dry eye consultation, schedule a visit with our office today.