‘Off-label’ Treatment for Dry Eye Disease | Medical News and Health Information

‘Off-label’ Treatment for Dry Eye Disease | Medical News and Health Information

‘Off-label’ Treatment for Dry Eye Disease

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – A common antibiotic, azithromycin, may help ease the discomfort of dry eye disease, according to new research from Harvard.

Azithromycin has been used commonly “off-label” by doctors, meaning the treatment’s effectiveness hasn’t been evaluated by the FDA. Researchers found the antibiotic may help stimulate some of the glands in the eyes, easing the pain and discomfort of meibomian gland dysfunction, the leading cause of dry eye disease.  Currently there are no FDA-approved medications for dry eye disease.

For more information, go to:http://www.masseyeandear.org/news/press_releases/recent/MGD-Dry_Eye_Treatment/ 

SOURCE: JAMA Ophthalmology, December 2013