Dry eye isn't always easy to see
Dry eye is increasingly common and can range from occasional symptoms of dryness to a chronic condition called dry eye disease. Even though you can't always see it, you can feel the impact of dry eye symptoms in everyday life.
Do you have any of these dry eye symptoms?
Nearly all sufferers experience them
- Scratchy or gritty feeling
- Redness
- Fluctuating vision or blurriness
- Tired eyes
- Eye irritation
Understanding Dry Eye
Dry eye is on the rise
Approximately 150 million Americans, including an increasing number of young people, experience occasional or frequent dry eye symptoms.1
Despite the growing prevalence of dry eye, most Americans may not know their symptoms may be associated with eye dryness, which can cause a delay in care.
If not addressed, your symptoms can become more frequent and severe, progressing to dry eye disease, which may cause damage to the eye surface and vision problems.
3 in 4 sufferers of dry eye find it extremely or very bothersome.
8 in 10 sufferers are aware of how their eyes feel—reporting they sometimes can practically hear themselves blink.
Dry eye can impact your quality of life. Most sufferers (67%) had to give up or cut back on something to relieve symptoms, most commonly screen time (32%).
Many sufferers don't routinely see an eye doctor, even though it's the primary way to get evaluated.
Based on the Bausch + Lomb State of Dry Eye online survey by The Harris Poll2
Eyes Tell the Story
The Impact of Dry Eye
Dry eye affects everyone differently, depending on a number of factors, like cause and severity. Meet Kayte and Brianne and learn about their stories and experiences living with dry eye. Kayte and Brianne are paid spokespeople.
Kayte Demont, a photographer who experiences dry eye, has collaborated with Bausch + Lomb to capture images of others who are also living with the daily disruptions of dry eye symptoms.
Ever since she can remember, Kayte has been obsessed with eye care, which she attributes to her career as an artist and needing to rely heavily on her vision. When she's working, Kayte's eyes are constantly glued to a screen or squinting to look through a lens, to keep everything in focus. She carries her eye drops wherever she goes to help get through her day.
Brianne Manz, a lifestyle, parenting, fashion blogger, experiences dry eye symptoms aggravated by excessive time spent on screens.
Brianne started feeling symptoms years before she knew it was dry eye. It wasn't until she went to an eye doctor about two years ago that she finally realized what she was feeling was due to dry eye. Now she knows to take frequent breaks from using her phone and computer throughout the day, and has found what works for her to manage her symptoms.
Relief Options for Dry Eye
Finding An Option that works for you
Dry eye can make people very aware of how their eyes feel, which isn't normal.
How products can help relieve symptoms:
- Lubricating the eyes
- Treat inflammation of the eyelids or eye surface
- Address tear evaporation
- Increase tear production
- Based on the severity of symptoms, your eye doctor may diagnose you with dry eye disease and prescribe medication.
Findings from the 2025 State of Dry Eye survey show that despite experiencing symptoms of dry eye, 40% of dry eye sufferers waited six months or more before visiting an eye doctor.3 Don't wait!
If you believe you may have dry eye, talk to an eye doctor to discuss your options.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY EYE,
it's causes, symptoms and treatment options, visit Dry Eyes Symptoms + Treatments: Bausch + Lomb
Frequently Asked Questions
Dry eye is often a chronic condition, but it is manageable. With the right treatment plan from your eye doctor, symptoms can be significantly reduced or eliminated.
Common causes include aging, certain medications, environmental factors, and underlying health conditions such as autoimmune diseases.
Treatment options include supplements, artificial tears, prescription eye drops, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgical procedures.
References: 1. MultiSponsor Surveys, Inc. The 2022 Study of Dry Eye Sufferers. August 2022. 2. The Bausch + Lomb State of Dry Eye survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll among a nationally representative sample of 2,003 U.S. adults aged 18 or older including 461 "sufferers" (defined as those who often/always experience eye dryness or have been diagnosed by a healthcare professional with dry eye disease) and 1,542 non-sufferers. "Respondents" or "Americans" refers to all 2,003 survey participants. The survey was conducted April 15-23, 2024. 3. The 2025 State of Dry Eye Harris Poll surveyed 732 U.S. adults aged 18 or older who identified as "sufferers of dry eye" (defined as those who often/always experience eye dryness and/or have been diagnosed by a healthcare professional with dry eye disease) on their experiences with dry eye and relief options. Of those 347 disclosed taking only an over-the-counter product and 385 disclosed taking a prescription medication for their dry eye.
Follow Bausch + Lomb:
