The FDA just approved Xiidra (lifitegrast) eye drops, the first new dry eye prescription medicine approved in over a decade and only the second prescription medicine approved by the FDA to treat dry eye. The only other previously approved medicine to treat dry eye is Restasis, which also is an eye drop. Over one thousand patients were enrolled in four separate clinical trials which led to Xiidra’s approval. As our understanding of dry eye grows, it has become increasingly clear that dry eye has an inflammatory basis. Xiidra works essentially as an anti-inflammatory eye drop to decrease inflammation on the surface of the eye which causes dry eye and its symptoms. Restasis also essentially is an anti-inflammatory drop, but it works by a different mechanism. Although Xiidra is very new, it appears form the FDA clinical trials that it works faster than Restasis. It is estimated that between 29 and 50 millions Americans suffer from dry eyes. Typical symptoms of dry eye include burning, irritation, “tired” eyes, and even a feeling like something is in the eye (foreign body sensation). Dry eye should be treated before LASIK or PRK laser vision correction to minimize post-operative dry eyes.