Dry Eye Demystified: A Closer Look at Xiidra® (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% for DED Inflammation

What this episode covers

Dry eye is showing up in exam lanes every day—and for many practices, it represents one of the most consistent opportunities to improve patient comfort, visual stability, and long-term trust. In this Defocus Media Podcast episode, Dr. Darryl Glover and Dr. Jennifer Lyerly are joined by dry eye specialist Dr. Jackie Garlich to discuss real-world dry eye care, focusing on identifying symptoms, confirming diagnosis with practical tools, and addressing inflammation with therapies such as Xiidra.1* * The exact mechanism of action of Xiidra in dry eye disease is not known. Dr. Jackie Garlich, Optometrist and Dry Eye Expert Dr. Glover opens the conversation by noting that over 38 million people suffer from chronic dry eye, reinforcing a central theme of the discussion: dry eye cannot be ignored in primary eye care. Dr. Garlich adds important context by highlighting that patient satisfaction with dry eye treatment remains low, emphasizing a gap between how often dry eye is treated and how effectively it is managed. Together, the panel frames dry eye as both a patient-care responsibility and a significant opportunity for clinicians to improve outcomes. Understanding Dry Eye and Why It Gets Missed Dry eye affects people of all ages and demographics, often manifesting as discomfort, fluctuating vision, watering, burning, or difficulty wearing contact lenses throughout the day.2 One of the recurring points made by the panel is that dry eye is frequently underdiagnosed—not because it is rare, but because symptoms are not always uncovered during the exam. Rather than asking patients a broad question such as “Do you have dry eye?”, the panel encourages more targeted, functional questions. Dr. Garlich notes that fluctuating vision is commonly overlooked because patients do not instinctively associate it with dry eye, and clinicians may not always ask about it. End-of-day discomfort, contact lens intolerance, and visual instability during prolonged screen use are examples of symptoms warranting further evaluation. To help prioritize chair time and align expectations, Dr. Garlich describes asking patients how bothered they are on a scale of one to ten. Dr. Lyerly explains that this approach helps clinicians determine whether a symptom requires immediate intervention or can be documented and monitored. Confirming Dry Eye in Real-World Practice A key takeaway from the discussion is that clinicians do not need advanced technology to start treating dry eye more effectively. Dr. Garlich emphasizes that diagnosis can begin with minimal investment: listening carefully to patient symptoms, instilling fluorescein, evaluating tear breakup time, and manually expressing the meibomian glands at the slit lamp. From there, additional testing can be layered in depending on clinic flow and whether the visit is a comprehensive exam or a dedicated dry eye workup. Dr. Garlich describes using meibography imaging and additional diagnostic tools—such as MMP-9 testing, Schirmer testing, and lissamine green staining—when clinically appropriate. Dr. Lyerly shares a streamlined approach during comprehensive exams, reserving more in-depth testing for follow-up visits when time allows. The shared message is clear: starting with the basics allows clinicians to identify dry eye consistently and build confidence before expanding their diagnostic process. Addressing Inflammation in Dry Eye Throughout the episode, the panel emphasizes that dry eye is often an inflammatory condition and that meaningful improvement often requires addressing inflammation on the ocular surface. Dr.

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.