Thymosin Beta-4 and Ocular-Surface Care for Dry Eye Disease

Standard-of-care comes first and does most of the work: regular artificial tears (preservative-free if used frequently), warm compresses and lid hygiene, treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, and prescription anti-inflammatory drops (such as those a clinician selects) for the inflammatory component. Environmental measures — humidification, screen-break blinking, omega-3-rich diet, avoiding direct airflow — meaningfully help many people. Thymosin beta-4 is the only research peptide with dry-eye trial data, investigated as a topical ophthalmic drop rather than an injection; it is not an approved dry-eye therapy and has no established over-the-counter dosing, so it should only be considered under an eye specialist's guidance, never self-compounded or self-instilled. Systemic research peptides have no validated role in dry eye. In short, build on proven ocular-surface care and treat any peptide as experimental and physician-directed.