USA: A review, published in the Dove press journal Clinical Ophthalmology, has described the use of a commercially available formulation of loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension (0.25%) for the treatment of acute symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). It found that the unique formulation is well-suited for dry eye flare-ups.
Dry eye disease is a prevelant disease of ocular surface. Patients with DED can get episodic flares, like any chronic disease. For the chronic treatment of DED, there are many existing and upcoming treatments, yet treatments for DED flares are limited. Loteprednol etabonate 0.25% is approved by FDA for the short-term treatment of the signs and symptoms of DED.

Formulation of this medications is with the customized mucus-penetrating particle (MPP) technology that has a significant ability to penetrate the ocular surface for effective deliver of the active steroid to the ocular surface tissues as compared with conventional steroid preparations. The MPP technology involves engineering nanoparticles designed to effectively penetrate mucus and prevent entrapment of drug particles by mucins. Also, there is an increasing use of loteprednol etabonate 0.25% for the treatment of DED before and/or after cataract or refractive surgery or as induction therapy before starting chronic immunomodulatory medication for DED.
There has been a focus on understanding the disease pathophysiology and identifying effective treatment modalities given the significant prevalence and morbidity of DED.
Nandini Venkateswaran, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, and colleagues conclude, "KP-121 0.25% with its custom engineered MPP technology allows for the effective and efficient delivery of loteprednol etabonate onto the ocular surface for the short-term treatment of signs and symptoms of DED with minimal side effects."
"Clinical trials have demonstrated the utility of this medication in DED flares and clinicians should incorporate this medication into their DED treatment armamentarium," they wrote.
Reference:
Venkateswaran N, Bian Y, Gupta PK. Practical Guidance for the Use of Loteprednol Etabonate Ophthalmic Suspension 0.25% in the Management of Dry Eye Disease. Clin Ophthalmol. 2022;16:349-355
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S323301