Tyrvaya™ – Nasal Spray for Dry Eye Relief

At this point it’s becoming increasing clear… dry eye can cause several eye related problems beyond pain and discomfort. Thankfully, patients who suffer from dry eye now have one more tool in their arsenal to help combat the disease.

Tyrvaya™ – has recently gained FDA approval with a new delivery technique to potentially ease irritation. The product is “the first and only nasal spray to treat signs and symptoms of dry eye, while helping your body produce more natural tears.”

This is seemingly achieved by “activating the trigeminal parasympathetic pathway in the nose, which results in increased basal tear film production.” Tyrvaya™ is sprayed into each nostril, twice a day, about twelve hours apart, with another subset of strict instructions for patients who receive a prescription. (1)

Addressing signs and symptoms:

It should be noted that symptoms of dry eye typically indicate an early stage of the disease. When symptoms and signs begin to overlap, the disease is most likely progressive and treatments may need modification.

Symptoms of dry eye include:

• Burning, stinging, itching, or redness
• Light sensitivity
• Contact lens irritation
• Foreign body sensation
• Eye fatigue

Signs of dry eye include:

• Decreased tear production
• Decreased tear break up time
• Corneal staining
• Increased osmolarity (more concentrated tears)
• Meibomian gland disease

When dry eye symptoms start to show, patient and doctor should work as a team. To control the problem, the doctor needs plenty of information about the patients home and work environments, along with medications, contact lens wear, cosmetics, and any other risk factors.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of dry eye, you should consult your eye doctor right away. Once a dry eye diagnosis is handed out, your eye doctor can locate your position on the spectrum of signs and symptoms and figure out which treatment is right for you.

Nasal spray as effective treatment?

Dry eye is now the leading cause of visits to the eye doctor so there’s definitely a need for multiple effective treatments which give patients more options. Furthermore, many older patients often complain about the difficulties of using eye-droppers, which is the main delivery mechanism for most effective dry eye treatments.

Based on this information alone, Tyrvaya™ should be a welcome addition to any ECP’s arsenal of dry eye treatments, especially if the product is safe, effective, and easy to administer.

---

(1) – Tyrvaya’s website was used as source for this article.

Credit Tyrvaya™ for the photo in the body of the article.

Tyrvaya™ is only available with a prescription, so it’s important to talk to your eye doctor about your potential treatment options.

Dr. Maria Pribis works in private practice in Stamford, Connecticut, where she specializes in anterior segment disease with a focus on the ocular surface. Every now and then, she experiences a patient encounter that reminds her to “wake up and smell the roses.”