Why is dry eye hard to treat?

The most frustrating thing about dry eye is ... 

Difficulty finding relief from dry eye symptoms.

 Almost half (48%) of patients with dry eye said they followed their treatment plan carefully, but only 13% experienced lasting relief Most people say that over-the-counter eye drops alone do not provide sufficient relief, and seek out additional treatments Home remedies include drinking additional water throughout the day (reported by 76% of survey respondents), using a warm compress (56%), blinking often (52%), avoiding cigarettes and secondhand smoke (45%) and thoroughly removing eye makeup (34%)  

Frustration with how dry eye is diagnosed or perceived 

Between a quarter and a third of people say that their condition has been written off as an “old person’s disease” or attributed to something less severe such as allergies. Nearly half of people feel others don’t understand what they’re going through or appreciate the reality of their discomfort.

Struggling with the debilitating symptoms of dry eye 

Many people struggle with multiple symptoms such as dryness (76%), foreign body sensation (64%), eye fatigue (62%), light sensitivity (62%) and blurred vision (60%), as well as burning, scratchiness and itchiness. 

Dry eye interferes with many aspects of everyday life, including driving at night (56%), reading (42%), using a computer (34%) and watching television (24%) 

Experts say dry eye is often mistaken for other conditions 

Dry eye is one type of ocular surface disease, a group of disorders that causes the eyes to not produce enough tears or the right quality of tears. Tears are essential for keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable.  “Ocular surface disease is very complex with many subtypes and overlapping symptoms. Getting to a correct diagnosis requires expertise and can take time,” says dry eye expert Christopher Starr, MD, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical Center.  

“A lot of symptoms are labeled and treated as dry eye, but patients may not be getting better because there are other things going on,” he says.  

Allergic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, floppy eyelid syndrome, corneal dystrophies and toxicity to medications or cosmetics are just a handful of the many conditions that can be incorrectly referred to as dry eye disease, Starr says. While artificial tears can provide temporary relief in many of these cases, they don’t treat the underlying causes.  

Treating dry eye is tricky, but not impossible 

There are many devices and medications available today, and even more effective treatments are on the horizon. Finding a solution may involve some trial and error. Many people find it necessary to combine therapies and make a few lifestyle changes. The right treatment regimen can involve a lot of daily maintenance. 

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