New Survey Highlights Quality-of-Life Benefits of Dry Eye Disease Treatment

To kick off Dry Eye Awareness Month, observed each July, Bausch + Lomb released findings from its third annual State of Dry Eye survey, showing that treating dry eye disease (DED) symptoms is associated with improvements in patients’ emotional well-being and self-confidence.¹ At the same time, the survey found that many patients may delay seeking care and remain unaware of potential links between DED symptoms and underlying systemic conditions.

How DED Symptoms Affect Quality of Life

The online survey, conducted by The Harris Poll between May 4 and May 15, 2026, included 1000 US adults 18 years or older who either reported often or always experiencing eye dryness or had been diagnosed with DED by a health care professional. Of the total sample, 589 respondents used a prescription treatment and 411 used only an over-the-counter (OTC) product to manage their symptoms.

The survey found that DED can have broad emotional and functional consequences. Among respondents, 33% reported that their symptoms affected stress or anxiety levels, 29% reported effects on productivity, 28% reported effects on mood, 22% reported effects on self-confidence, and 20% reported effects on emotional well-being.

The impact of DED on daily functioning also reflects its broader economic burden. A prior analysis published in The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®) found that patients with moderate or severe DED reported significantly greater work productivity losses than those with mild disease, increasing from 18% among patients with moderate disease to 35% among those with severe disease.² The analysis estimated the average annual cost of managing DED at $783 per patient, translating to an estimated national payer burden of $3.3 billion.

Another AJMC analysis emphasized that indirect costs associated with reduced productivity remain a major contributor to the overall economic impact of the disease.³

Prescription DED Treatment Associated With Greater Improvements

Survey respondents using prescription eye drops were more likely than those using only OTC products to report substantial improvements in several areas following treatment.¹ Improvements were reported in self-confidence (64% of prescription users vs 25% of OTC users), productivity (60% vs 43%), emotional well-being (59% vs 34%), and mood (52% vs 38%). Overall, among respondents who reported that DED affected their stress or anxiety levels, 73% said they experienced improvement following treatment.

The findings suggest that addressing DED symptoms may be associated with improvements that extend beyond physical relief. They build on last year’s State of Dry Eye survey, which found that many patients delay seeking professional care.⁴ Specifically, 40% of respondents reported waiting 6 months or longer before seeing an eye care professional, and 88% of patients treated with a prescription said they wished they had started treatment sooner.

Awareness Gaps Persist Around Systemic Conditions

The 2026 survey also identified significant gaps in patient awareness regarding the relationship between DED and broader health conditions, including hormonal changes and autoimmune diseases.¹ Nine in 10 respondents (90%) were unaware that DED symptoms may be associated with menopause. Additionally, 78% did not know symptoms could be linked to autoimmune conditions, with fewer than 1 in 10 respondents recognizing potential associations between DED and lupus (8%), type 1 diabetes (8%), or rheumatoid arthritis (7%).

Managed Care Implications of Earlier DED Recognition

These findings highlight persistent awareness gaps that may contribute to delayed evaluation and diagnosis, with implications for both patients and the health care system. DED remains underdiagnosed relative to its true prevalence and economic impact, a mismatch that complicates efforts to assess and manage the condition at the population level.⁵

For managed care stakeholders, the findings underscore the importance of improving DED awareness and encouraging earlier evaluation, particularly as delayed diagnosis and undertreatment may affect productivity, emotional well-being, and opportunities to identify related systemic conditions.¹ Bausch + Lomb said the survey findings emphasize the importance of educating patients about lifestyle factors, hormonal changes, and comorbidities that may contribute to DED.

“We know from our previous State of Dry Eye surveys that the physical symptoms of dry eye present challenges in everyday life, and the newest findings reveal another profound burden: a noticeable impact on emotional health and well-being,” Andrew Stewart, MBA, MS, president of Global Pharmaceuticals and International Consumer at Bausch + Lomb, said in the news release. “These insights reinforce that dry eye is a complex condition, and addressing symptoms not only provides physical relief—it helps patients feel better holistically. We urge anyone who is suffering to speak with an eye care professional."

References

1. New Bausch + Lomb data show that addressing dry eye symptoms is associated with improved quality of life, including lower anxiety and increased self-confidence. News release. Bausch + Lomb. July 1, 2026. Accessed July 13, 2026. https://www.bausch.com/newsroom/news/?id=350
2. Fiscella RG. Understanding dry eye disease: a managed care perspective. Am J Manag Care. 2011;17(suppl 16):S432-S439.
3. Karpecki PM, Nichols KK, Sheppard JD. Addressing excessive evaporation: an unmet need in dry eye disease. Am J Manag Care. 2023;29(suppl 13):S239-S247. doi:10.37765/ajmc.2023.89448
4. Bausch + Lomb combines patient voices and new survey insights to combat persistent misconceptions about dry eye. News release. Bausch + Lomb. July 1, 2025. Accessed July 13, 2026. https://ir.bausch.com/press-releases/bausch-lomb-combines-patient-voices-and-new-survey-insights-combat-persistent
5. Assessing the economic burden of under diagnosed dry eye disease. AJMC. December 14, 2023. Accessed July 13, 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/assessing-the-economic-burden-of-under-diagnosed-dry-eye-disease