Prevent Blindness Declares July as Dry Eye Month
Monday, June 29 2026 | 10 h 56 min | News
Prevent Blindness has declared July as Dry Eye Month, with the goal of raising awareness among the public and allied healthcare professionals about the causes, symptoms and management of dry eye.
Dry eye occurs when tears do not provide adequate lubrication for the eyes. In some cases, the condition can affect vision, and when left untreated, severe dry eye may contribute to damage to the front surface of the eye.
As part of the awareness initiative, Prevent Blindness is offering no-cost educational materials, including a dedicated dry eye webpage, fact sheets, social media graphics in English and Spanish, expert videos and patient-focused resources. Dry Eye Month is again supported by OCuSOFT Inc.
New this year, Prevent Blindness will include a dry eye discussion in the July episode of its Focus on Eye Health Podcast. The episode will feature Aidan Moore, co-founder and executive director of the Dry Eye Foundation, and Pam Gaio, an individual living with dry eye, both participants in the Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program.
The organization’s Focus on Eye Health Expert Series also includes resources on dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction, featuring April Jasper, OD, FAAO, of Advanced Eyecare Specialists, as well as a dry eye presentation with Stephanie Jones Marioneaux, MD, a member of the Prevent Blindness Board of Directors and president-elect of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Symptoms associated with dry eye can include fluctuating blurry vision, burning or stinging, a gritty or sandy sensation, itchiness, redness, inflammation, stringy mucus and increased sensitivity to light or irritants such as cigarette smoke.
Prevent Blindness also notes that dry eye may be associated with certain health conditions, including diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and rosacea. Previous eye surgery may also increase risk. Some medications, including certain diuretics, beta-blockers, antihistamines, sleeping pills, anxiety medications, antidepressants and heartburn medications, may also contribute to dry eye symptoms.
The organization encourages patients to speak with an eye doctor about their symptoms, medical history and medications, including both prescription and non-prescription products.
Prevent Blindness also offers educational materials on the proper use of eye drops, including a printable guide, video and dedicated webpage.
Source: Prevent Blindness
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