A promising advance in the treatment of dry eye

11/03/2026

Dry eye is a very common ocular condition that occurs when insufficient tears are produced or when they evaporate too quickly. It can cause discomfort such as stinging, irritation or a gritty sensation and, in more advanced cases, affect visual comfort and quality of life, especially in older people and in patients with autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome.

Although artificial tears and other common treatments can help control symptoms, their effect is usually limited in time and requires repeated applications throughout the day, which is not always convenient for patients.

With the aim of progressing towards more effective and practical options, a research team from the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre, in collaboration with the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), has developed an innovative medical device designed to keep the ocular surface moisturised continuously for several hours. Made from biocompatible materials, it allows a sustained release of artificial tears, reducing the need to apply eye drops so frequently.

The device is designed to be placed in the lower conjunctival sac and to facilitate use by the patient themselves. Within this framework, the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre has carried out the first human study with healthy volunteers, a key step in assessing its initial use, which has confirmed that the device is safe, comfortable and well tolerated.

At present, the project is in an advanced stage of development (Phase 2) with the aim of continuing to evaluate its performance in patients with dry eye, optimising its manufacture and progressing through the regulatory processes required for its future clinical implementation.

This advance reinforces Barraquer’s commitment to innovation applied to ocular health and could, in the future, represent a more comfortable and effective alternative for managing a condition that affects a growing number of people.