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description Monograph

Dry Eye Disease and Perfluorohexyloctane as a Treatment Option

Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech

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schedule 1.00 Contact Hours (0.10 CEUs)
category Disease State Management/Drug Therapy
local_activity Knowledge

Course Overview

More than 16 million people in the United States have dry eye disease. Effective treatments are needed to provide relief to these patients. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved perfluorohexyloctane to treat dry eye disease. Perfluorohexyloctane is a semifluorinated alkane indicated for treating the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). Its exact mechanism of action is unknown but it forms a monolayer in the tear film to reduce evaporation. Clinicians may review the treatment options, the risk-benefit profiles of treatment options, and a patient’s medical history of dry eye disease. Following this analysis, the clinician and patient may consider whether perfluorohexyloctane can improve the patient’s outcomes.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Define dry eye disease and its diverse clinical presentations
  • Describe the causes of dry eye disease
  • Compare the management of mild dry eye disease symptoms to the management of severe symptoms
  • Explain the resulting action of perflurohexyloctane

Faculty

Authors & Activity Planners
Steve Malen, PharmD, MBA
View Bio +
Dr. Steve Malen graduated with a dual degree: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Rhode Island. Over his career, he has worked as a clinical pharmacist in the retail, specialty, and compounding sectors. He specialized and taught on topics from vaccines to veterinary compounding. Dr. Malen has also written a science fiction novel and taught and cofounded the concept of Patient Empowered Blockchain (P.E.B.). Currently, Dr. Malen continues to write, teach, and consult various companies in the healthcare sector.

I. Introduction

II. Defining Dry Eye Disease

III. Epidemiology: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Dry Eyes

IV. Management of Symptoms of Dry Eyes

1. Mild Symptoms
2. Moderate to Severe Symptoms

V. Managing Symptoms of Dry Eyes Using Perfluorohexyloctane

1. Clinical Trials
2. Mechanism of Action
3. Indications
4. Dosing
5. Side Effects or Adverse Events
6. Drug-Drug Interactions
7. Handling and Storage

VI. Patient Counseling

VII. Interdisciplinary Approach and Collaboration

VIII. Summary

From August 23, 2023 through August 23, 2026, participants must:

  1. Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
  2. Study the section entitled "educational activity"
  3. Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)

Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.

Faculty Planner Disclosure

The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Steven Malen, PharmD, MBA, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo, Pharm.D., B.S., was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022 and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships relevant to this activity to report or disclose by any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure

The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.

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  • Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 / Mac OS X 10.9 or later / iOS / Android
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  • A connection to the internet

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

PTCB Recognition

RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".