WOBURN, Mass.—Services were held this week for Jeffrey P. Gilbard, MD, a pioneer in dry-eye disease, who died Aug. 12 at age 55 from complications related to a bicycle accident.

Gilbard is best known for his pioneering research that led to treatments for dry-eye disease; he also is considered one of the first ophthalmologists and researchers to understand the correlation between nutrition and the health and wellness of the eye.

Gilbard founded Advanced Vision Research (AVR) in 1995 to market and distribute TheraTears, an over-the-counter eye drop he created to treat dry eye. His holistic approach to eyecare included the use of nutritional supplements to improve the ocular surface and to treat and prevent retinal disease; this research resulted in additional products including TheraTears Nutrition, Macutrition and NutriDox.

The AVR executive team led by chief executive officer Leigh Reynolds will continue to run the firm, according to the company.

"Our company is grieving the loss of its founder and our close friend, Dr. Jeffrey Gilbard," said Reynolds. "We will continue his mission of improving people's quality of life. This is what Jeff would want us to do, and there's no better tribute to him than to continue his work."

Gilbard, who was also a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease Clinic at the New England Eye Center in Boston, is survived by his widow, Liz, and three children; a twin brother, Dr. Steven M. Gilbard; and their older brother, Dr. Robert J. Gilbard.