PURPOSE: Despite its high prevalence, dry eye and dry eye disease (DED) are often misunderstood, undertreated, and their impacts underestimated. To optimize surgical outcomes, minimizing DED signs and symptoms is key. This online survey sought to understand the prevalence, perceptions, and impact of DED in US adults.

METHODS: US adults, including DED sufferers (those who often/always experience eye dryness and/or have been diagnosed by a healthcare professional) completed an online survey administered by The Harris Poll. Harris online poll sampling precision is measured using a Bayesian credible interval. Here, the sample data are accurate to within ±3.0 with a 95% confidence interval (CI), with statistically significant differences between the DED sufferers and non-sufferers at the 95% CI. This credible interval was wider among population subsets analyzed. 2003 adults were recruited, including 461 self-identified dry eye sufferers.

RESULTS: Among non-sufferers, 74% reported related symptoms (tired eyes, light sensitivity, redness) but only 15% associated these symptoms with dry eye. 70% said they did not know much about preventing or treating dry eye and 44% did not know untreated dry eye can lead to other problems including vision loss. Among dry eye sufferers, 33% had never visited an ECP for dry eye and 52% of sufferers simply tolerated symptoms despite 81% being constantly aware of their eyes and 67% reducing/stopping activities like screen time and reading. For those sufferers who did see an ECP about their dry eye, 67% waiting for more than 6 months to do do (31% over 2 years).

CONCLUSION: Dry eye remains largely undertreated, causing daily discomfort and permitting potential worsening. US ECPs have an opportunity to better engage and educate their patients to help address this. For the ocular surgeon, ensuring patients recognize how to mitigate the effects of dry eye may improve pre- and post-surgery ocular health.