An innovative treatment for dry eye

Anna Roig

Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB)
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain

Every year, more people experience the discomfort of dry eye, a condition that affects a significant portion of the world’s population—especially women over 50. Severe cases can greatly reduce quality of life, particularly in patients with Sjögren syndrome. Dry eye occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too quickly, leaving the eyes irritated, sore, and sometimes painful. Most people rely on eye drops, but these offer only temporary relief and must be applied multiple times daily, which can be inconvenient.

Our research team now offers a promising solution for dry eye sufferers: a newly developed medical device that delivers artificial tears throughout the day, providing sustained relief. Developed with Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer, this device has already been tested in healthy volunteers and found to be safe, easy to use, and comfortable. Protected in Europe, the device is scheduled for further trials in patients with dry eye.

While initial results are encouraging, this project will focus on activities addressing performance, production, regulation, and commercialization. We hope this innovative dry eye treatment will become a more effective and convenient option than current methods.

An innovative biopolymer for ophthalmologic treatments

Stage 2