At Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, Bausch + Lomb hosted a discussion on “The Patient’s Language of Dry Eye” to help eye care professionals (ECPs) better communicate with patients about managing this common condition. The key message? While dry eye can’t be cured, it can be managed—if patients understand the process.
According to Bausch + Lomb’s State of Dry Eye survey, many Americans don’t realize their symptoms are tied to dry eye, and 70% don’t know much about prevention or treatment. The session explored how to close this gap between ECPs and their patients.
EXPERTS WEIGH IN
The panel included Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, founder of BeSpoke Vision in Edmon, Oklahoma; Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, from Schwartz Laser Eye Center in Scottsdale, Arizona; and actress Julie Bowen, of Modern Family and Happy Gilmore, a dry eye sufferer. The moderator opened the conversation by highlighting two types of dry eye patients: those with severe symptoms and those with contradictory symptoms, such as tearing despite dryness.
“As an eye care provider, it’s crushing to see patients suffering, especially when they think this is just how their life will be,” Dr. McGee shared.
Bowen recounted her own diagnosis, remembering how her optometrist framed it like a life sentence. “He told me solemnly that I’d have to use eye drops every day for the rest of my life. I also have to use the bathroom and brush my teeth every day. I saw it as a solution, not a burden,” Bowen said. Dr. McGee emphasized how critical that initial conversation is for patients. “You see the patient’s body language and demeanor shift when they learn there are answers,” she said.
A NEW ERA OF DRY EYE TREATMENT
Dr. Bloomenstein discussed how dry eye treatment has evolved over the past decade. “Ten years ago, there were three options for dry eye management: steroids, punctal plugs or artificial tears. Today, we know inflammation is the root cause of dry eye. While steroids are still an option for severe or chronic cases, anti-inflammatories are now the go-to choice.”
Dr. McGee also stressed the importance of early diagnosis. “Eye care providers shouldn’t wait until patients complain about their eyes. Give every patient a validated dry eye questionnaire to catch the condition in its early stages.”
“The way I see it is that all patients have dry eye until I have proven that they don’t,” Dr. Bloomenstein added.
IMPROVED COMMUNICATION
Bowen reflected on her delayed diagnosis, noting that her provider initially brushed it off as allergies or exhaustion. “If he had been more confident from the start, it never would have gotten so bad,” she said. She recalled struggling to remove her contact lenses after a long day on set; but still, her provider avoided a dry eye diagnosis.
Dr. Bloomenstein recommended starting conversations with patients by saying, “Let us help you maintain the healthy vision that you do have.”
For Bowen, the diagnosis was a step toward relief. “It’s like when I bring my kids to the doctor for a sore throat. A strep throat diagnosis is better than no diagnosis at all because at least now we know what to do. Patients want answers, even if that answer is a new addition to their daily life,” she said.
CONNECTING WITH DRY EYE PATIENTS
Dr. McGee encouraged ECPs to bridge the gap with their patients. “I want all patients and ECPs to know that dry eye sufferers are not crazy. You just have a condition, but here’s how we can manage it. There are 150 million people worldwide living with dry eye. We can make it more manageable.”
She also advised against making contact lens changes the first step in addressing dry eye complaints. “If a patient is wearing contact lenses and complains of dry eye, the first step should not be to switch their lenses. Check the ocular surface first.”
By shifting how ECPs communicate about dry eye, providers can help patients feel more understood and guide them toward better management, improving their quality of life.
