Bausch + Lomb’s new Eyes Tell the Story: The Impact of Dry Eye campaign is designed to combine personal storytelling with new consumer data to highlight ongoing misconceptions about dry eye disease (DED) and encourage earlier diagnosis and treatment.

The campaign builds upon insights from Bausch + Lomb’s 2024 “Know Your Dry Eye” initiative and is supported by the 2025 State of Dry Eye survey, which was conducted among 732 adults with frequent eye dryness or a professional diagnosis of DED.

Key findings of the 2025 survey include:

• 78% of respondents wish they had more education and resources about dry eye.

• 62% mistakenly believe or are unsure if dry eye resolves on its own after some treatment.

• 43% thought dry eye was temporary or weren’t sure.

• 42% didn’t know or weren’t sure whether it requires long-term care.

• 40% of participants waited 6 months or longer before visiting an eyecare professional, despite experiencing symptoms.

• 88% of survey respondents who are currently using prescription treatments said they wish they had started sooner.

The visual centerpiece of the campaign is a series of portraits by artist Kayte Demont (a dry eye patient herself) that capture the daily realities of living with DED. It features Alvin Wayne, an interior designer and men’s health advocate whose long work hours aggravate symptoms, and Brianne Manz, a lifestyle and parenting blogger who is affected by screen time-related eye dryness.

The campaign aims to empower more patients to recognize that persistent or uncomfortable eye sensations may be symptoms of DED and to encourage them to have conversations with their eye doctor rather than delay care.

The initiative also reinforces that dry eye is influenced by multiple factors including age, medications, screen exposure, environment, and systemic conditions. For many patients, inflammation underlies the disease, and management often requires long-term commitment and individualized care.

Indeed, most survey participants (71%) rated consistent, long-term relief as a top priority, and half prioritized treatments that address dryness specifically.

Dr. Yehia Hashad, EVP of R&D and chief medical officer at Bausch + Lomb, concurred: “Relief can come in many forms—OTC drops, nutritional supplements, or prescription treatments—but the sooner you seek relief, the better.”

The survey was conducted online from March 24 to April 21, 2025. Of the 732 US adults who had DED symptoms or diagnosis, 347 were using OTC treatments and 385 were using prescription medications. The margin of error was ± 4.8% overall, ± 6.5% for Rx users, ± 6.6% for OTC-only users, at 95% confidence level.

Campaign resources and patient stories can be found at KnowYourDryEye.com. Patients who wish to share their own experiences may be featured in future educational campaigns.