Millions of people around the world live with dry eye disease, a condition that can turn everyday activities such as reading, driving or working on a screen into a source of constant discomfort. During Dry Eye Awareness Month, EssilorLuxottica is highlighting the importance of earlier diagnosis, personalized care and innovations that are helping people protect their eye health and quality of life.

Dry eye disease is one of the most common eye conditions worldwide, yet it is often overlooked. It develops when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too quickly, disrupting the protective tear film that keeps the surface of the eye healthy and comfortable. As a result, people may experience symptoms such as grittiness, stinging, redness, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.

While dry eye has long been associated with ageing, it is increasingly affecting younger adults. More time spent on digital devices, contact lens wear, and environmental factors such as air conditioning, pollution, and low humidity are all contributing to its rising prevalence. Women, particularly during hormonal changes such as pregnancy and menopause, people living with autoimmune diseases and those taking certain medications are also at greater risk.

It is estimated that approximately 5% to 50% of adults worldwide1 may experience dry eye disease depending on age, sex and different diagnostic criteria used2. Beyond physical discomfort, the condition can make everyday activities, from reading a book and driving to spending long hours in front of digital screens, more difficult, impacting productivity, well-being, and overall quality of life.

Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment

Scientific understanding of dry eye disease has evolved considerably in recent years. The latest recommendations from the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS)1, a leading organization in eye health education, recognize dry eye as a complex, multifactorial disease and establish a framework for standardized diagnosis and more personalized patient care.

Today, eye care professionals can combine symptom assessments with objective clinical tests to identify the underlying causes of dry eye rather than focusing on symptoms alone. This enables more targeted treatment strategies tailored to each patient’s specific needs.

Treatment options have also expanded significantly. Depending on the cause and severity of the disease, management may include lifestyle and environmental changes, eyelid hygiene, lubricating eye drops, prescription therapies and innovative light-based treatments for meibomian gland dysfunction, one of the leading causes of evaporative dry eye.

Dry Eye Awareness Month provides an opportunity to highlight how advances in clinical understanding, diagnostic technologies and personalized treatment are reshaping the way dry eye disease is identified and managed.

Supporting Better Dry Eye Care Across the Patient Journey

As a global leader in vision care and med-tech, EssilorLuxottica is helping advance innovation across the continuum of eye care, from earlier diagnosis to personalized treatment and long-term disease management.

Through Heidelberg Engineering, clinicians have access to advanced ophthalmic imaging technologies that support objective assessment of the ocular surface. Using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology, its anterior segment imaging platform provides detailed epithelial and stromal thickness mapping, helping clinicians evaluate corneal health and monitor changes over time as part of a comprehensive dry eye assessment.

For patients affected by dry eye, Espansione Group offers advanced light-based treatment technologies designed to address the different underlying causes of the condition. Its medical device combines low-level light therapy and intense pulsed light to support ocular surface health, improve tear film stability and enhance patient comfort. Both therapies are recognized within the latest TFOS recommendations as valuable treatment options for appropriately selected patients.

At Optegra’s eye clinics, clinicians provide comprehensive assessments and treatment pathways for patients with dry eye disease undergoing cataract and refractive surgery procedures. By combining advanced diagnostics, evidence-based therapies and patient education, Optegra helps ensure that care is tailored to each patient’s needs.

Together, these capabilities reflect EssilorLuxottica's commitment to advancing a connected eye care ecosystem that brings together innovative technologies, clinical expertise and personalized care. This integrated approach helps more people receive the right diagnosis at the right time, access treatments tailored to their condition, and ultimately enjoy a healthier, more comfortable vision.

_{1 TFOS DEWS III: Digest. Stapleton F, et al. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2025.}

_{2 Depending on the presence of symptoms with or without signs.}