Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disease characterized by tear film instability and hyperosmolarity and ocular surface inflammation. Oil-in-water (O/W) cationic nanoemulsions represent a progress in dry eye disease treatment serving as a technological platform for incorporation of poorly soluble drugs, enabling prolonged residence time at the ocular surface and, at the same time, replenishment and stabilization of compromised tear film. The aim of this doctoral thesis is development of a functional cationic nanoemulsion for dry eye disease treatment. For this purpose two nanoemulsion types were prepared using microfluidizer: primary cationic nanoemulsions with stearylamine and secondary cationic nanoemulsions with chitosan. Primary cationic nanoemulsions with increasing stearylamine weight fraction are characterized with small droplet size (< 100 nm), low PDI (≤ 0.25), positive zeta-potential (3.1-25.5 mV), appropriate pH, low viscosity and surface tension 31.3-35 mN m-1. The nanoemulsions are stable after 5-month storage. Changes in nanoemulsion droplet size and zeta-potential were observed after mixing with mucin dispersion, which indicates interactions with mucin. However, the changes were not more pronounced with the increase in stearylamine weight fraction above 0.05 % (w/w). Viability of 3D HCE-T model was at least 90 % after exposure to the prepared formulations. Secondary cationic nanoemulsions prepared with low (NC1: 0.05 %, w/w) and high (NC2: 0.3 %, w/w) chitosan weight fraction are characterized with droplet size of around 180 nm, greater homogeneity (PDI < 0.2) and positive zeta-potential (18.7 and 30 mV). Although the formulation NC1 showed greater stability, ibuprofen was successfully incorporated in both formulations (INC1 and INC2). The physico-chemical properties (pH, viscosity, osmolarity and surface tension) of the prepared formulations are within the range acceptable for ophthalmic application. The formulation INC1 is more stable than the formulation INC2 after 1-month storage. Filtration is an appropriate sterilization method for the prepared formulations. Ibuprofen release from the prepared formulations is significantly faster than from ibuprofen oil solution and suspension. Rheological characterization of the formulations mixed with mucin dispersion showed their mucoadhesive character which, however, is not more pronounced with the formulation INC2 with higher chitosan weight fraction. The assays performed using 3D HCE-T model and ex vivo porcine cornea model showed remarkable biocompatibility of the formulation INC1. Taking everything into account, the nanoemulsion with 0.05 % (w/w) stearylamine and INC1 formulation point out as the lead formulations holding great potential for the treatment of dry eye disease.