Management of Dry Eye in Patients Receiving Gabapentin

Assessment of Contributing Factors

• In patients on gabapentin who report ocular dryness, clinicians should systematically evaluate other potential contributors such as environmental exposures, concomitant medications, and underlying autoimmune disorders. This comprehensive assessment helps identify modifiable causes unrelated to gabapentin therapy. 1

Neuropathic Ocular Pain Screening

• When dry‑eye symptoms persist despite standard lubricating and anti‑inflammatory therapy, clinicians should screen for neuropathic ocular pain features using validated questionnaires (e.g., the painDETECT tool). Detecting a neuropathic pain component guides targeted adjunctive treatments. 2