Global Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment Market: Overview

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is also known as keratisis sicca and kerato-conjunctivitis sicca. People suffering from DES show damage to the ocular surface, instability in the tear film, and visual disturbance. Tear film covers the ocular surface, which is made up of three intertwined layers, a superficial lipid layer, produced by meibomian glands assist in reducing tear evaporation and uniform tear spreading, middle thick aqueous layer produced from lacrimal glands, and the innermost hydrophilic mucin layer produced from goblet cells of conjunctiva and epithelium of ocular surface.

The two most common types of DES are DES associated with Sjogren syndrome (SS) and DES unassociated with SS. DES can also be classified as aqueous deficiency dry eye and evaporative dry eye disorder. According to TearScience Inc., in 2012, around 86% of the patients in Europe and the U.S. were suffering from DES showed symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD, blockage of meibomian glands). The blockage causes less secretion of oil in the tears, which results in evaporation of tears too quickly.

The global dry eye syndrome treatment market is primarily driven by growing geriatric population coupled with high prevalence of dry eye syndrome and growth in awareness about the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. However, the stringent drug approvals, expirations of the blockbuster drugs patents, and lack of skilled ophthalmologists are restraining the growth of DES market. According to National Health and Wellness Survey in 2013, approximately 16.4 million people are suffering from DES, which accounts for 6.8% of the total population of the U.S. Prevalence of DES increases with age, 2.7% for 18 – 34 age group and 18.6% for more than 75 age group were reported to be suffering from DES. The prevalence of DES is higher in women (8.8%) as compared to men (4.5%). According to the National Eye Institute, in the U.S the annual cost of treating DES including prescription drugs is US $3.84 billion.

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