Lebanon benefits from a rich biodiversity, with medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) representing an important part of the country’s natural wealth; however, limited data are available documenting medicinal plants being employed in eye health. This review is the first to document Lebanese medicinal plants with ophthalmic characteristics and phytochemistry that might be beneficial in the development of new, accessible, and efficient ocular medications. In this study, we searched for studies on ocular therapeutic plants using known resources, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, and confirmed these plants’ presence within the Lebanese flora. The efficacy of 52 species from 28 families, including two endemic species (Crepis libanotica and Salvia libanotica), has been documented. Their Latin names, regional names, ocular medical applications, the plant parts used, and preparation forms are detailed below. The largest number of species belongs to the Lamiaceae family (21%), followed by Asteraceae (14%) and Solanaceae (7%). The most commonly used plant parts are the stems, leaves, and seeds. Ocular treatments fall into several categories: inflammation, infection, irritation, dry-eye, eyewash, the prevention or delay of cataracts, and general eye problems. A significant percentage (68%) of the medicinal plants target the anterior part of the eye. Some of the reported plants can be harmful to the eyes and should be handled with caution. The Lebanese medicinal plants listed, constituting a local heritage with global importance, could be used for treating ophthalmic ailments and require special screening and preservation.

This cross-sectional prospective cohort study investigates the clinical prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) in Lebanon. It is the first clinical study of its kind in Lebanon. Using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, patients initially underwent symptoms evaluation. Following this, participants received comprehensive ocular examinations, including the Tear Film Break-Up Time (TBUT), ocular surface staining, Schirmer’s test, and assessment of Meibomian gland quality and expressibility. Our findings indicate a high prevalence of DED, with 73.9% of participants exhibiting symptoms, stratified into mild (32.4%), moderate (19.7%), and severe (47.9%) cases. The mean OSDI score was 33.31 (SD = 14.77). TBUT measurements averaged 6.5 and 6.85 in the right and left eyes, respectively. Ocular surface staining among DED patients was graded across four levels, with most eyes classified between Grades 1 and 3. Schirmer's test results showed reductions of 20% in the right eye and 31% in the left eye. Analysis of Meibomian gland quality and expressibility revealed that Grade 0 was present in 52.1% of cases, Grade 1 in 36.6%, and Grade 2 in 11.3%. Our study identified smoking, contact lens use, and dyslipidemia as prevalent associated conditions, with a statistically significant association between these factors and DED (p < 0.001). Overall, our results confirm a high prevalence of DED in the Lebanese population, with modifiable risk factors that contribute to disease onset and severity.