Dry Eye Management With Stimulating Natural Approaches (CE Monograph)

Activity Description and Purpose

Recent advances in dry eye disease (DED) management have introduced therapeutic strategies that stimulate natural tear production by activating neural pathways within the lacrimal functional unit (LFU). This educational activity provides optometrists with a clinically relevant update on DED pathophysiology, with a focus on LFU’s central role in tear film homeostasis and disease progression. Through faculty-led discussions and real-world case examples, the activity explores diagnostic strategies, such as tear osmolarity testing and meibography, and highlights novel neurostimulation treatments, including varenicline nasal spray and mechanical external stimulators. Participants will enhance their ability to (1) describe the role of the LFU in the pathogenesis of DED and (2) design treatment plans incorporating neurostimulation to optimize patient outcomes.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for optometrists.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants will be better able to:

  • Describe the role of the lacrimal functional unit in the pathogenesis of dry eye disease
  • Design treatment plans for patients with dry eye disease using neurostimulation
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 COPE
Course opens: 
05/15/2025
Course expires: 
05/15/2026

Faculty

Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD (Chair)
Professor of Ophthalmology
James and Margaret Elkins Chair
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Nathan Lighthizer, OD
Associate Dean and Associate Professor
Chief, Specialty Care Clinics
Northeastern State University College of Optometry
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Selina McGee, OD, FAAO
Visionary Founder and CEO
BeSpoke Vision
Edmond, Oklahoma

Disclosure Policy

MedEdicus requires that anyone who is in a position to control the content of this educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any ineligible company. Financial relationship information is collected and resolved prior to the educational activity. All relevant relationships have been mitigated.

Faculty

Nathan Lighthizer, OD, is a consultant for Diopsys, Inc, OCuSOFT Inc, Orasis Pharmaceuticals, Reichert, Inc, and Virtual Vision Health; is an advisory board member of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Amgen Inc, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Bruder Healthcare, EyePromise, Ivantis Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Orasis Pharmaceuticals, Oyster Point Pharma, Inc, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc, and Théa Pharma Inc; and is on the speakers bureau for AbbVie Inc, Avellino, Diopsys, Inc, Dompé US, Inc, Ellex, iCare USA Inc, Innova Systems, Lumenis, NIDEK USA, Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Optovue, Inc, Reichert, Inc, RVL Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Sight Sciences, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc, and Virtual Vision Health.

Selina McGee, OD, is a consultant for AbbVie Inc, Aldeyra Therapeutics, Amgen Inc, Avellino, Bruder Healthcare, Cynosure, Dompé US, Inc, Eyevance, Harrow, Inc, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Lumenis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Ocuphire Pharma, Optovue, Inc, Oyster Point Pharma, Inc, RVL Pharmaceuticals, Inc, ScienceBased Health, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Théa Pharma Inc, Topcon Medical Systems, Inc, Trukera, Versant Ventures, and Zeiss; and is on the speakers bureau for AbbVie Inc, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Cynosure, Dompé US, Inc, Lumenis, Optovue, Inc, Oyster Point Pharma, Inc, and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD, is a consultant for Alcon, Dompé US, Inc, Hanall Biopharma*, Kala Pharmaceuticals, KOWA Pharmaceuticals America, Inc, and Nicox*; and is a contracted researcher for Dompé US, Inc.

* The financial relationship existed during the past 24 months but has now ended

Peer Reviewer

This activity was peer reviewed. The peer reviewer has no relevant commercial relationships to disclose.

Planners, Managers, and Writers

MedEdicus planners, managers, and writers have no relevant commercial relationships to disclose.

Accreditation Statement

COPE approved for 1.0 CE credit for optometrists.
COPE Course ID: 97944-TD (Asynchronous)
COPE Course Category: Treatment/Management of Ocular Disease

Administrator: 

This activity, COPE Activity Number 130760, is accredited by COPE for continuing education for optometrists.

Disclosure of Commercial Support

MedEdicus LLC has received commercial support from Viatris Inc for this activity in the form of an unrestricted educational grant.

The content of this COPE-accredited CE activity was planned and prepared independently by MedEdicus LLC without input from members of an ineligible company.

Off-Label Discussion

This educational activity may include discussion of unlabeled and/or investigational uses of drugs and devices. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each drug or device discussed in this activity for approved dosing, indications, and warnings.

Sponsored by 

Provider Contact Information

For questions about this educational activity, please contact MedEdicus LLC at [email protected].

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of State University of New York College of Optometry, MedEdicus LLC, Viatris Inc, or Review of Optometry.

This CE activity is copyrighted to MedEdicus LLC ©2025. All rights reserved. MedEdicus does not claim copyright to material included herein owned by third parties for which attribution or citation has been made. 336

Available Credit

  • 1.00 COPE
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