Melanie, a prior
user of artificial
tears


Name: Melanie
Age: 42
Occupation: Service coordinator for early intervention
Melanie was compensated for her time.

“Before I was diagnosed, I just went to my local pharmacy and if it was on the shelf, I bought it. The artificial tears just gave temporary relief. It wasn’t until I was prescribed Xiidra® and a few weeks in, that I started noticing real, lasting symptom relief.”
- Melanie
Xiidra is indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED)
Clinical trial data
- Xiidra reduced symptoms of eye dryness (based on EDS) at 2 weeks in 2 out of 4 studies, with improvement observed at 6 and 12 weeks in all 4 studies1
- Notable improvements in signs of dry eye disease: In 3 out of 4 studies, a larger reduction in Inferior fluorescein Corneal Staining Score (ICSS) favoring Xiidra was observed at 12 weeks1
The safety and efficacy of Xiidra were assessed in four 12-week, randomized, multicenter, double-masked, vehicle-controlled studies (N=2133). Patients were dosed twice daily. The mean age was 59 years (range, 19-97 years). The majority of patients were female (76%). Use of artificial tears was not allowed during the studies. The study end points included assessment of signs (based on Inferior fluorescein Corneal Staining Score [ICSS] on a scale of 0 to 4) and symptoms (based on patient-reported EDS on a visual analogue scale of 0 to 100). Effects on symptoms of dry eye disease: a larger reduction in EDS favoring Xiidra was observed in all studies at day 42 and day 84. Xiidra reduced symptoms of eye dryness at 2 weeks (based on EDS) compared to vehicle in 2 out of 4 clinical trials. Effects on signs of dry eye disease: at day 84, a larger reduction in ICSS favoring Xiidra was observed in 3 out of the 4 studies.1

“Before I was diagnosed, I just went to my local pharmacy and if it was on the shelf, I bought it. The artificial tears just gave temporary relief. It wasn’t until I was prescribed Xiidra® and a few weeks in, that I started noticing real, lasting symptom relief.”
- Melanie
Patient history
- Symptoms of chronic eye dryness, irritation, and discomfort since 2015
- Self-medication with OTC artificial tears for 2 years with temporary symptom relief
- Wears glasses and contact lenses, but has reduced contact lens use

“At first, I thought the dryness and irritation were just because I was wearing my contacts while looking at a computer screen all day at work. I didn’t realize I had a disease that could be treated.”
- Melanie
Clinical presentation
- Initial visit to Dr. Brujic: August 2017
- Symptoms: Worsening eye dryness, redness, irritation, discomfort, and photophobia throughout the day
- Artificial tear use: Using an increasing variety of OTC artificial tears frequently throughout the day
Diagnostic evaluation
- Tear Breakup Time (TBUT) of 1 second (a value of <10 seconds may indicate a positive finding)2
Dry eye symptom impact
“I’m on a computer a lot, recording children’s fine motor skills. With my dry eye, I wasn’t as tuned in, and the kids sensed my frustration.”
“At every stoplight, I was using artificial tears for eye dryness and had fluctuating vision, even with my glasses on!”
“I felt helpless outside with my kids on windy days.”

Clinical evaluation: dry eye disease


Melanie’s eye care
provider and his plan
Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO
Dr. Brujic is a paid consultant for Novartis

“When I first saw Melanie in 2017, she had been dealing with chronic symptoms and self-medicating with artificial tears for 2 years. Her symptoms such as eye dryness, fluctuating vision, and short tear breakup time indicated DED. In my mind, she was a great candidate for Xiidra.”
- Dr. Brujic
Initial treatment plan
- 90-day Rx for twice-daily Xiidra1*
- Follow-up visit at 3 months
*Xiidra is an LFA-1 antagonist for the treatment of dry eye disease.

“Inflammation may be an underlying mechanism in dry eye disease. I wanted Melanie’s treatment to address the underlying inflammation.”
- Dr. Brujic
*Xiidra is an LFA-1 antagonist for the treatment of dry eye disease.
Patient counseling included:
- Administration: Instructed Melanie to remove contact lenses before using Xiidra and wait at least 15 minutes before inserting1
- Safety profile: Reviewed contraindications and common side effects, which included instillation-site irritation, dysgeusia, and reduced visual acuity1


“I find that when I tell my patients what they may expect with Xiidra,
that it encourages them to stay on treatment.”
- Dr. Brujic
Melanie’s results at follow-up (3 months)

Melanie showed improvement in Inferior fluorescein Corneal Staining Score (ICSS)

Melanie had self-reported symptom improvement

Melanie experienced dysgeusia

“I noticed an improvement in my dry eye symptoms around 2 weeks after I started Xiidra. It wasn’t 100% better, but I could tell it was working. My eyes just felt better. They weren’t dry and gritty all the time. It was, and continues to be, a real relief for me.”
- Melanie