Bausch + Lomb Review Article in Expert Review of Ophthalmology Provides a Blueprint for Patient-Centric Approaches to Dry Eye Management

  • Artificial tears serve as the cornerstone for dry eye management but require intentional selection and should not be viewed as interchangeable
  • Comprehensive review underscores importance of selecting artificial tear formulations based on the underlying cause of dry eye, symptoms and patient preferences
  • Patient-centric care for dry eye should also incorporate individual dietary, environmental and lifestyle factors

VAUGHAN, Ontario, Oct. 01, 2026 – Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BLCO), a leading global eye health company dedicated to helping people see better to live better, today announced the publication of a comprehensive review article examining tear film structure and function, describing the landscape of over-the-counter artificial tear formulations and providing guidance on how to align artificial tear selection with patients' underlying dry eye biology and individual factors. The review, which was authored by leading eye health experts in the United States, Europe and Asia, appears in the current issue of Expert Review of Ophthalmology.

"While artificial tears are the most common dry eye management, they come in a variety of formulations and are not interchangeable," said Ömür Uçakhan, Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Cornea and Contact Lens Service at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in Turkey and author on the publication. "Understanding the specific disruption that gives rise to dry eye on a case-by-case basis is essential for selecting an artificial tear formulation and designing treatment regimens that align with patients' unique biology, treatment preferences and therapeutic goals. As shown in this review, identifying patient-specific drivers of dry eye is essential to selecting therapies that can provide optimal outcomes."

Key insights from the review include:

  • Artificial tear formulations differ in their composition and effect on the tear film and ocular surface. Selecting a formulation that addresses each patient's dry eye biology and symptoms is essential for optimizing treatment outcomes. These formulations include:
    • Polymer-based formulations designed to increase viscosity and increase the time artificial tears remain on the surface of the eye to provide sustained relief of dry eye symptoms. These include hyaluronic acid (HA)-containing formulations that attract and retain water, improve eye drop viscosity and elasticity and stabilize the tear film. HA-containing formulations have been used clinically for more than 30 years and often are the active comparator in clinical trials of new formulations. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is the most commonly used agent for enhancing viscosity. Other natural and synthetic polymers and multi-polymer combinations contribute to an expanding landscape of artificial tear formulations.
    • Osmoprotectants help to balance water pressure within epithelial cells on the surface of the eye, which is essential for preventing corneal injury. These include trehalose, erythritol, glycerol, ectoine and fucoidans. In addition to its osmoprotective activity, ectoine also affects the tear film lipid layer.
    • Lipid-based formulations are intended to help address rapid tear evaporation, which occurs in most dry eye patients. Lipids and surfactants in these formulations restore and stabilize the tear film lipid layer. They also help maintain a smooth ocular surface that enhances refraction and vision quality.
    • Antioxidant-containing formulations are intended to address certain types of tissue damage and inflammation, which are believed to contribute to dry eye pathology. Antioxidants used in artificial tears include vitamin A; vitamin B analogs; vitamins B12, C, and E; and alpha-lipoic acid.
  • Recent technological advances have enabled novel formulations utilizing bioengineered elements and comprising multiple components that have the potential for improved efficacy.
    • A growing body of data supports the potential of combination formulations in providing improved efficacy compared with those containing a single active ingredient. These include combinations of HA-CMC, glycerol-CMC and ectoine-HA.
  • Long-term patient compliance is essential for optimizing artificial tear efficacy. Selecting an artificial tear formulation that mitigates or eliminates barriers to adherence is important for improving dry eye clinical outcomes. Patient preferences regarding mode of administration, effect on vision, storage requirements, bottle design and packaging should be considered when selecting an artificial tear formulation to support long-term use.
  • Well-designed, long-term clinical studies are needed to evaluate the relative safety, efficacy and quality of life profiles of different artificial tear formulations, including preservative-containing and preservative-free options.
  • Continued development of innovative artificial tear formulations and delivery systems incorporating novel combinations of ingredients to support more personalized, patient-centric, disease-based treatment for dry eye is needed.
    • These efforts should encompass genomic, proteomic and metabolomic data to enable enhanced alignment of treatment with the underlying cause of individual disease.

"A key takeaway from this review is that optimizing dry eye management requires patient-centric selection of existing artificial tear formulations, while advancing new, biology-based dry eye therapies for the future," said Mohamed Yassine, Vice President of Medical & Scientific Affairs at Bausch + Lomb. "We continue to build on our history of innovation and provide patients and clinicians with a range of options that can improve dry eye treatment outcomes."

About Dry Eye
Dry eye is a multifactorial condition that can be influenced by lifestyle, medications, hormonal changes, age, environmental factors and comorbidities. It may occur when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. Inflammation can play an important role in the development and persistence of dry eye disease. Management options vary according to the underlying causes and severity and may include lifestyle or environmental modifications, over-the-counter eye drops and prescription treatments.

About Bausch + Lomb
Our mission is simple – we help people see better to live better, all over the world. For nearly two centuries we've evolved with the changing needs of patients and customers, and our commitment to innovation and improving the standard of care in eye health has never been stronger. From contact lenses to prescription products, over-the-counter options, surgical devices and more, we're turning bold ideas into better outcomes through passion, perseverance and purpose. Learn more at www.bausch.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

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