Bausch + Lomb survey ties dry eye symptom relief to quality of life gains

According to a new announcement from Bausch + Lomb, findings from the company's third annual State of Dry Eye survey link management of dry eye symptoms to improved quality of life, including lower anxiety and increased self-confidence.¹ Among respondents who said dry eye affected their stress or anxiety levels, 73% reported improvement following treatment. The online survey, conducted by The Harris Poll in May 2026, included 1000 US adults using either a prescription treatment or an over-the-counter (OTC) product.

The results build on the company's two previous State of Dry Eye surveys, which documented delayed care seeking and persistent misconceptions among adults with dry eye symptoms.² The 2025 survey found 40% of respondents waited 6 months or more before visiting an eye doctor, and 88% of prescription-treated respondents wished they had started treatment sooner. The new data arrive during Dry Eye Awareness Month, observed each July.

The Harris Poll conducted the survey online between May 4 and May 15, 2026, among 1000 US adults aged 18 years or older classified as having dry eye. Respondents either often or always experience eye dryness or have received a diagnosis of dry eye disease from a health care professional. Of the total sample, 589 respondents used a prescription medication and 411 used only an OTC product.¹

One in five respondents said dry eye symptoms affect their self-confidence (22%) and emotional wellbeing (20%).¹ About one in three (33%) reported effects on stress or anxiety levels, while 29% cited impacts on productivity and 28% on mood. "These findings are very consistent with what we see in clinical practice," Esen K. Akpek, MD, chief of ocular immunology at the Foster Ocular Immunology and Inflammation Center, Duke University School of Medicine, told Ophthalmology Times. Akpek pointed to an under-recognized dimension: the effect on vision itself. Patients often describe fluctuating or blurred vision, difficulty reading, and visual fatigue that worsens through the day—limitations that translate into anxiety, social withdrawal, and reduced confidence. Patients "do not always say, 'My eyes are dry,'" she said, instead presenting with indirect complaints such as trouble reading, eye fatigue, or headaches after computer use.

Respondents using prescription eye drops were more likely to report near-total or substantial improvement across multiple aspects of daily life after starting treatment. In the announcement, Bausch + Lomb reported improved self-confidence in 64% of prescription users vs 25% of OTC users, along with improved productivity (60% vs 43%), emotional wellbeing (59% vs 34%), and mood (52% vs 38%).¹ The company noted the OTC-only base for some comparisons included fewer than 100 respondents.

Awareness gaps on menopause and autoimmune links to dry eye symptoms

The survey also identified low awareness of associations between dry eye symptoms and hormonal changes or systemic inflammation from coexisting conditions. Nine in 10 respondents (90%) did not know dry eye symptoms may be associated with menopause.¹ Nearly eight in 10 (78%) did not know symptoms could be associated with autoimmune conditions.

Awareness of specific systemic associations was lower still. Only 8% of respondents knew dry eye symptoms could be associated with lupus, 8% with type 1 diabetes, and 7% with rheumatoid arthritis.¹ Although 22% recognized a general link between dry eye symptoms and autoimmune conditions, fewer than one in 10 could name these specific diseases. "For many patients, chronic dry eye is not simply an isolated ocular problem—it may be the earliest manifestation of a systemic autoimmune disease," Akpek said. She noted that roughly 1 in 10 patients with clinically significant dry eye have underlying Sjögren disease, and about half of those do not carry the diagnosis at presentation. In patients with significant, primarily aqueous-deficient dry eye, she added, approximately 47% have an underlying condition such as Sjögren disease, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, or lupus.

Bausch + Lomb positioned the findings as support for continued patient education on the systemic factors influencing dry eye, including lifestyle, medications, hormonal changes, age, environment, and comorbidities.¹ For clinicians, the awareness gaps underscore the value of probing systemic health history when evaluating patients with persistent symptoms.

Andrew Stewart, president of Global Pharmaceuticals and International Consumer at Bausch + Lomb, said in the announcement the newest findings "reveal another profound burden: a noticeable impact on emotional health and well-being."¹ "We urge anyone who is suffering to speak with an eye care professional," Stewart added. The State of Dry Eye survey is now in its third year and anchors the company's Know Your Dry Eye educational campaign.² Additional patient resources are available at KnowYourDryEye.com.

References
1. Bausch + Lomb. New Bausch + Lomb data show that addressing dry eye symptoms is associated with improved quality of life, including lower anxiety and increased self-confidence. Press release. Published July 1, 2026. Accessed July 7, 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260701890414/en/
2. Bausch + Lomb. Bausch + Lomb combines patient voices and new survey insights to combat persistent misconceptions about dry eye. Press release. Published July 1, 2025. Accessed July 7, 2026. https://ir.bausch.com/press-releases/bausch-lomb-combines-patient-voices-and-new-survey-insights-combat-persistent