[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Dry eye and ocular surface agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/dry-eye-and-ocular-surface-agents/) › Lifitegrast

# 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.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Dry eye and ocular surface agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/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.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## 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 →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/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

### Serious (rare, important)

- Rare serious allergic reactions: anaphylaxis, bronchospasm, angioedema

## 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

## Memory aid

LIFITEGRAST «LIFTs» the INTEGRin off ICAM: LFA-1 let go, inflammation slows.

## 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.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/lifitegrast/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 2

- [Ciclosporin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/ciclosporin/)
- [Cenegermin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/cenegermin/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Dry eye disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/dry-eye-disease/)

[← Back to the class: Dry eye and ocular surface agents](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/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](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1d4b4b61-79da-4b6f-bb19-056d111bf400) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [Lifitegrast Ophthalmic: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a616039.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=S01XA25) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/lifitegrast/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/lifitegrast/