Nearly 16 million Americans experience “dry eye,” a condition in which the eye does not produce enough tear film, or enough quality tear film, to keep the eye lubricated and healthy. Too many people are unaware of the symptoms, risk factors and treatment of this significant but often-overlooked threat to vision and eye safety. 

In response, nonprofit education and advocacy organization Prevent Blindness, in partnership with privately-held eye care company OCuSOFT Inc., has designated July as Dry Eye Awareness Month.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Common symptoms of dry eye include:

• Burning or stinging sensations 
• Gritty feeling as though a grain of sand were in your eye 
• Redness and inflammation 
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Increased sensitivity to cigarette smoke 

Dry eye is not just uncomfortable; it can be very serious. If left untreated, dry eye can cause irreparable damage to your cornea, the clear, colorless front outer layer of your eye. 

Dry Eye Risk Factors

There are many potential contributors to the development of dry eye, such as:

• Age (Generally Occurs in Patients 50 years or older)
• Refractive surgery (e.g., Lasik)
• Inflamed eyelids
• Environmental factors, such as allergies, a dry climate, or air pollution
• Contact lenses (especially extended-wear)
• Medications (including eye drops used to treat glaucoma) 
• Certain medical conditions, such as:
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome)

Women are twice as likely as men to develop dry eye, particularly if they are:

• Pregnant
• Taking certain types of birth control
• On hormone replacement therapy
• Experiencing menopause

Dry Eye Treatment Options

Dry eye is simple to treat, but treatments are most effective when started early and used consistently. Options include:

• Diet and/or lifestyle changes
• Over-the-counter eye drops or ointments
• Prescription medications

What You Can Do

For those who want to help promote dry eye awareness and protect vision health this month, Prevent Blindness has created a new online resource that provides free information along with shareable social media graphics and downloadable fact sheets in English and Spanish. Taking your own precautions is as important as educating others, however.

“The best way to protect your vision,” said Stephanie Marioneaux, MD, cornea and external disease specialist, and member of the Prevent Blindness volunteer board of directors, “is to get a comprehensive eye exam to make sure your eyes are healthy today and you can take care of your sight in the future.”

*Prevent Blindness. (2021, June 29). July is Dry Eye Awareness Month [Press Release]. https://preventblindness.org/prevent-blindness-declares-july-2021-dry-eye-awareness-month/