Prevent Blindness has once again designated July as Dry Eye Month to raise awareness about dry eye disease (DED) and provide educational resources for the public and healthcare professionals. The initiative aims to improve understanding of the condition, highlight risk factors, and encourage early diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term damage and improve quality of life.
According to the National Eye Institute, nearly 16.4 million Americans are affected by DED. If left untreated—particularly in its severe form—DED can damage the cornea, impair vision, and significantly reduce quality of life.
Risk Factors
- Age over 50
- Hormonal changes (eg, pregnancy, menopause)
- Refractive surgery such as LASIK
- Eyelid inflammation or anatomical issues
- Environmental irritants (eg, smoke, allergens, dry climates)
- Contact lens use and poor makeup hygiene
- Underlying conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, rosacea, and Sjögren’s syndrome
- Decreased blink rate from extended screen use or conditions like Parkinson’s disease
- Medications that reduce tear production (eg, antihistamines, antidepressants, hormone replacement therapy, acne and blood pressure drugs)
Resources
Prevent Blindness is offering a variety of free educational tools to support awareness efforts including:
- A dedicated webpage for Dry Eye Month
- Informative fact sheets
- Social media graphics in English and Spanish
- Instructional videos of how to properly apply eye drops and more
The organization also released 2 expert interviews as part of its Focus on Eye Health Expert Series:
- “Dry Eye Disease and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): What You Need to Know” featuring April Jasper, OD, FAAO
- “Dry Eye” featuring Stephanie Jones Marioneaux, MD, a Prevent Blindness Board Member
The full set of Dry Eye Month resources is available at PreventBlindness.org.