12/20/2025
Whitney McConkey, O.D.
McConkey Eye Care
1128 Baldwin Mill Road
Jarrettsville, MD 21084
Info@McConkeyEyeCare.com
443-453-5444
December 20, 2025
WellCare Health Plans
P.O. Box 31370
Tampa, FL 33631
Re: Urgent Request to Include Dry Eye Disease Therapies on the 2026 Drug Formulary
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to express urgent concern regarding the absence of prescription dry eye medications on WellCare’s 2026 drug formulary. Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic, inflammatory ocular surface condition that affects millions of Americans and is increasingly common, particularly among older adults and individuals with high digital device use. The exclusion of all effective prescription treatments — including cyclosporines (Restasis, Cequa, Vevye), lifitegrast (Xiidra), Tryptyr, Tyrvaya, Miebo, and Xdemvy — denies members access to recognized, evidence-based care.
Dry Eye Disease Is Highly Prevalent and Worsening
A foundational population-based study from Salisbury, Maryland (1997) found that approximately 14.6% of adults aged 65 and older reported dry eye symptoms often or all the time. Since that time, more recent population-based studies demonstrate substantially higher prevalence rates, indicating that dry eye disease is worsening over time. Contemporary studies show that up to 30% of elderly individuals meet diagnostic criteria for dry eye disease, reflecting a significant increase compared with earlier estimates. This rise is widely attributed to modern lifestyle factors, including prolonged digital device use, environmental exposures, systemic disease, and changes in the American diet.
Dry Eye Disease Is a Chronic Inflammatory Condition Requiring Prescription Therapy
Dry eye disease is not a transient nuisance; it is characterized by tear film instability, increased tear osmolarity, and chronic inflammation of the ocular surface. Left untreated, this inflammatory cascade can result in persistent ocular discomfort, fluctuating...
