Abstract
The Sicca-Förderpreis (Dry Eye Award) supports the development of scientific research on the pathogenesis, diagnostics, and treatment of dry eye and ocular surface diseases. It is awarded after a limited call for proposals in German-speaking countries, written application and selection of the award winner after evaluation by a jury of ophthalmologists working in basic and clinical science. In this article examples of the results of funded projects of the Sicca-Förderpreis 2016 are cursorily described, which were presented at the Ophthalmological Academy of Germany 2019 (Augenärztliche Akademie Deutschland 2019) and therefore provide an insight into current scientific developments. The role of muscarinic receptors and those of urea in the pathogenesis of dry eye as well as the (missing) correlation of tear film stability, viscosity and surface tension are highlighted. A project on the early detection of ocular involvement in graft versus host disease and the idea of treating meibomian gland dysfunction with eyelid surgery techniques are also groundbreaking. The outlined projects represent the potential for further substantial developments in the understanding, diagnostics and treatment of dry eye; however, their long-term clinical relevance still needs to be established.