Cystic fibrosis drug for dry eyes

PEOPLE with severe dry eye disease might benefit from a treatment used in cystic fibrosis. the eye condition disrupts tear production, and the outer layer — the cornea — becomes inflamed and covered in a web of DNA.

A trial reported in the journal translational Vision science And technology compared eye drops containing a synthetic form of an enzyme called DNase — which loosens lung secretions in those with cystic fibrosis and similarly breaks up DNA webs on the eye — with a placebo.

Participants in the DNase group were found to have a reduction in corneal damage and DNA webs at eight weeks, compared with the placebo group. Chicago College of Medicine researchers hope to conduct larger trials.