Lifitegrast
Dry eye and ocular surface agents
Dry eye and ocular surface agents
Anti-inflammatory eye drops for dry eye disease that block the T-cell protein LFA-1. An odd taste after the drop is common.
Quick facts
- Group
- Dry eye and ocular surface agents
- Target
- Lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1, integrin alpha-L/beta-2)
- Used for
- Signs and symptoms of dry eye disease
- Key effects
- Irritation at the moment of instillation · Eye redness
- Monitor
- Symptoms and signs · Allergic reactions
- ATC
- S01XA25
No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.
Mechanism of action
In dry eye disease, inflammation of the ocular surface is driven partly by T lymphocytes. Lifitegrast binds LFA-1, an integrin on white blood cells, and stops it from binding ICAM-1, which may be over-expressed in the cornea and conjunctiva in dry eye. This is thought to reduce T-cell adhesion, activation and inflammation; the exact mechanism in dry eye is not known.
- Ocular surface inflammation attracts T cells
- LFA-1 on T cells binds ICAM-1
- Lifitegrast blocks this binding
- Inflammation and symptoms ease
Indications
- Signs and symptoms of dry eye disease Dry eye disease →
Adverse effects
Common
- Irritation at the moment of instillation
- Altered taste (dysgeusia)
- Reduced or blurred vision
- Eye redness, itching, tearing and headache
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to lifitegrast or any ingredient
Key interactions
- Contact lenses
- Removed before the drop and reinserted only after a short wait
What is monitored
- Symptoms and signs of dry eye at follow-up
- Allergic reactions
Administration and safety
- Single-use containers: used right after opening, and leftover liquid is discarded
- The dropper tip must not touch the eye or other surfaces
- Contact lenses are removed before the drop
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No human data exist; systemic exposure after eye use is low, and the relevance of animal findings at very high exposure is unclear.
Nursing care
- Teach the drop technique and hand hygiene
- Warn about a brief stinging and an unusual taste after the drop
- Explain that vision may blur briefly
- Report signs of an allergic reaction
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Applied as eye drops; systemic exposure is low
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What molecular interaction does lifitegrast block?
The binding of LFA-1 on T cells to ICAM-1 on the ocular surface.
What are the most common side effects of lifitegrast?
Irritation at instillation, altered taste and reduced or blurred vision.
What happens to contact lenses during lifitegrast use?
They are removed before the drop and reinserted after a short wait.
Connections
← Back to the class: Dry eye and ocular surface agents
Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: DailyMed - LIFITEGRAST for solution (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); Lifitegrast Ophthalmic: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.