ReviewBMJ open ophthalmology2021
Dry eye: why artificial tears are not always the answer.
Review in BMJ open ophthalmology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 63 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effects of different forms of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on dry eye disease resulting from various etiologies: a meta-analysis and systematic review.BMC ophthalmology · 2026Pooled it
- Safety and efficacy of rebamipide compared to artificial tears for the treatment of dry eye: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC ophthalmology · 2025Pooled it
- The efficacy and safety of varenicline nasal spray for the management of dry eye signs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC ophthalmology · 2023Pooled it
- Patient Experience with ABBV-444, a Proof-of-Concept Study for a Novel Artificial Tear with Trehalose and Sodium Hyaluronate for Dry Eye Symptoms.Clinical optometry · 2025Trial
- Effects of Carboxymethylcellulose Artificial Tears on Ocular Surface Microbiome Diversity and Composition, A Randomized Controlled Trial.Translational vision science & technology · 2023Trial
- Immune inflammatory targets and anti-inflammatory therapy in dry eye disease.International ophthalmology · 2026Review
- Current and Developing Therapeutics for Dry Eye Disease: Targeting Ion Channels.Current issues in molecular biology · 2026Review
- An In Vitro Evaluation of the Effect and Protection of Artificial Tear Formulations on Human Corneal Epithelial Cells in Normal and Dry Eye Disease States.Pharmaceutics · 2026Article
- Wogonoside alleviates hyperosmotic stress-induced inflammation and apoptosis in human corneal epithelial cells via PI3K/AKT signaling.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Management of Dry Eye Disease with Artificial Tears Containing Hyaluronic Acid and Trehalose: A Narrative Review.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Review
- Intradermal Acupuncture for Moderate to Severe Dry Eye Disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of pharmacopuncture · 2025Article
- Insulin Nanoemulsion Eye Drops for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease in Sjögren's Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial Phase I/II.Vision (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Reference genes validation in tear fluid for RNA analysis in ocular surface disease.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- WNT Mimetic-Induced Lacrimal Gland Regeneration Reverses Aqueous Tear Deficiency.Translational vision science & technology · 2025Article
- Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 3 (LPAR3) regulates ocular surface chloride transport via calcium signaling.Experimental eye research · 2025Article
- Patients' perspective on the environmental impact of the severe dry eye disease healthcare pathway.Eye (London, England) · 2025Article
- Exosomes fromInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) modulates ocular surface chloride transport and its inhibition promotes ocular surface hydration.The ocular surface · 2024Article
- Ameliorative effects ofIntegrative medicine research · 2024Article
- Evaluation of cyclosporine 0.05% and artificial tears for the management of dry eye disease following cataract surgery: a randomized controlled trial.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease that manifests in patients with a variety of symptoms and signs such as ocular pain, visual issues, rapid tear evaporation and/or decreased tear production. It is a global health problem and is the leading cause of optometry and ophthalmology clinic visits. The mainstay therapy for DED is artificial tears (ATs), which mimics tears and improves tear stability and properties. ATs have been found to improve symptoms and signs of disease in all DED subtypes, including aqueous deficient DED and evaporative DED. However, given the heterogeneity of DED, it is not surprising that ATs are not effective in all patients. When AT fails to relieve symptoms and/or signs of DED, it is critical to identify the underlying contributors to disease and escalate therapy appropriately. This includes underlying systemic diseases, meibomian gland dysfunction, anatomical abnormalities and neuropathic dysfunction. Thus, this review will discuss the benefits and limitations of ATs and review conditions when escalation of therapy should be considered in DED.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.