More Than Half Of The General Population Experience Dry Eyes, Yet Only Few Receive Professional Care

Dry eyes tin origin important discomfort, and nan symptoms go much communal arsenic we age. However, until now, it was unclear what proportionality of nan organization suffered from nan condition, pinch estimates ranging from 5-50%. 

In fact, investigation presented coming (Monday) astatine nan 43rd Congress of nan European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), recovered that much than half of nan wide organization successful nan USA and Europe acquisition barren eyes, yet only 20% of European patients and 17% of US patients were diagnosed, and they tin hold years for master help.

Dr. Piotr Wozniak, refractive surgeon and barren oculus master astatine Optegra Eye Clinics successful Warsaw, Poland, and a teacher and objective coach astatine Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University successful Warsaw, told nan Congress: "Results from our studies uncover a important group of patients suffering without help. The European questionnaire explored why group don't activity treatment. Many spot barren oculus arsenic a normal portion of ageing and thing to endure. As a aesculapian doctor, I find this peculiarly concerning because a elemental oculus driblet could connection important alleviation – but galore group aren't moreover asking for help."

Dr. Wozniak presented findings from a study of 2,003 adults successful nan US conducted successful April 2024, and from an ongoing, international arm of nan study conducted by Bausch and Lomb pinch complete 5,000 adults successful nan UK, France, Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia: nan 'Needs Unmet successful Dry Eye: Symptoms, Treatment and Severity' (NESTS) study. In June 2025, nan NESTS world limb surveyed 2,580 adults successful nan wide organization and 2,572 barren oculus sufferers. 

"In nan NESTS study, we recovered that 58% of nan wide organization reported experiencing barren oculus symptoms, yet only 1 successful 5 person received a general diagnosis from a healthcare provider," he said. "The ample size of this study makes these results robust.

"The study explored nan diligent travel successful detail. What stood retired was that up to one-third of patients had knowledgeable symptoms for much than 5 years earlier seeking master help. NESTS besides recovered that astir half of sufferers acquisition symptoms each azygous day. The hold successful seeking curen is concerning, particularly since barren oculus is simply a progressive illness and early involution tin forestall a vicious rhythm of inflammation."

Other results from NESTS showed that 60% of barren oculus sufferers waited astatine slightest 4 months earlier seeking thief and 20% waited much than a twelvemonth earlier talking to wellness attraction supplier astir their symptoms. Many sufferers stopped driving astatine nighttime (17%), nary longer wore constitution (14.8%), aliases reduced their usage of power aliases aerial conditioning (15.2%) owed to their uncontrolled barren oculus symptoms. One successful 3 sufferers (34%) reported that their symptoms had worsened successful nan past twelvemonth and only 9% said location had been an improvement.

Lubricating oculus drops were nan first and astir communal treatment, chosen either by nan diligent aliases by an oculus aliases wellness attraction provider. Yet only 25% believed their existent curen was specifically tailored to their needs. 

NESTS besides examined patient-provider interactions, revealing nationalist differences. For example, successful France fewer than half of barren oculus sufferers had planned follow-up visits, while successful Saudi Arabia, nan majority, 84%, were proactively followed up by their providers."

Dr. Piotr Wozniak, refractive surgeon and barren oculus specialist, Optegra Eye Clinics, Warsaw, Poland

In nan US study, oculus dryness often affected 50% of study respondents, and 80% knowledgeable symptoms specified arsenic fatigue, itchy aliases watery eyes, but only 17% had a test from an oculus attraction provider. Between 35-75% of group were very aliases highly bothered by barren eyes, pinch reading, utilizing physics devices aliases driving being nan astir communal activities to beryllium disrupted; 70% lacked knowledge of curen options; 40% were unaware that untreated barren eyes tin origin different oculus problems and imagination loss; only astir 25% visited an oculus attraction supplier each 2 years aliases much frequently; 67% of group pinch barren eyes waited six months aliases much to spot an oculus attraction provider, and 31% waited 2 aliases much years.

Dr Wozniak said: "These findings item nan wide effect of barren oculus illness connected value of life, showing a ample number of group suffering silently.

"We request to amended patients and nan nationalist connected nan causes, consequences and curen options for barren eyes, arsenic good arsenic nan value of regular oculus checks. In addition, we must support healthcare professionals successful distinguishing betwixt different types of barren oculus and matching treatments appropriately. One person's 'dry eye' tin beryllium very different from another's."

Diagnosis of barren oculus often involves a operation of patient-reported symptoms, aesculapian history and objective tests. However, immoderate patients are diagnosed only connected nan ground of symptoms and a modular oculus examination, for lawsuit pinch a microscope. Specific diagnostic devices see looking astatine nan clip it takes for a barren spot to look connected nan cornea aft a blink, utilizing dye to stain nan aboveground of nan eye, measuring nan concentrations of salts and different particles successful tears, aliases an appraisal of nan Meibomian gland, which is responsible for producing nan oily portion of tears.

Left untreated, barren eyes tin beryllium very uncomfortable, tin origin inflammation and a information called blepharitis erstwhile eyelids go sore and inflamed. Symptoms see a sandy aliases gritty feeling, soreness, uncomfortable and achy eyes, itching aliases burning sensation, short-term blurred vision, and watery eyes. Dry eyes are much communal successful group complete nan property of 50 because nan glands that make tears, peculiarly nan oily component, go little effective, causing nan tears to barren up excessively quickly and nan beforehand of nan oculus to go barren and irritated. The information whitethorn besides impact nan outcome of astir each ophthalmological surgery, including cataract and refractive procedures, making its test and guidance important, moreover earlier room takes place.

Dry, dusty, windy and acold conditions tin besides make eyes consciousness dry, arsenic tin air-conditioning, cardinal heating, smoking and definite aesculapian conditions specified arsenic autoimmune diseases and hormonal conditions.

ESCRS President, Dr Filomena Ribeiro, who is Head of nan Ophthalmology Department astatine Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal, was not progressive successful nan research. She commented: "These findings uncover nan existent grade of barren oculus illness successful nan wide population. It is concerning that specified a mini proportionality of sufferers activity thief for nan condition, particularly arsenic it tin make a existent quality to nan outcomes of ophthalmological room and besides to their value of life. Eye and wellness attraction professionals request to talk this pinch patients erstwhile they spot them and promote group to person regular oculus attraction checks."