Dry Eye News and Research

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Dry eye is one of the most common complaints seen by eye doctors, accounting for nearly one fourth of all office visits. Caused by insufficient tear production or excessive tear evaporation, dry eye can be a mild, episodic feeling of discomfort associated with certain circumstances, such as exposure to dry, hot or windy environments; however, it can also be a chronic medical condition that, if left untreated, may lead to increased risk of infection or visual impairment.

New framework aims to improve reliability of tear-based health sensors

Dr. Yangzhi Zhu of the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), with collaborators at UC San Diego and USC, published a Nature Sensors perspective on what it will take to turn tear-based wearable sensors into reliable, long-term health-tracking tools.

8 Oct 2026

Study links eyelash extensions to skin mites, eye irritation and blocked glands

A study among young women who regularly have eyelash extensions has found most have tiny mites, called Demodex folliculorum, living on their lashes. These mites can cause a painful reaction in the skin called demodicosis.

10 Sep 2026

Smoking shows no major impact on the eye microbiome in small study

A small study found no evidence that smoking causes large or consistent shifts in the ocular surface microbiome or tear proteome. The authors caution that subtle smoking-related effects cannot be ruled out, given the small cohort and the ocular surface's low-biomass, contamination-sensitive microbial niche.

8 Jul 2026

New eye drop formulation shows promise for dry eye disease

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Okayama University in Japan have developed and tested in mice a promising new eye drop formulation for treating dry eye disease.

21 May 2026

Plant-based eye drops harness photosynthesis to heal dry eyes

What if your eyes could use light to heal themselves? Drawing inspiration from how plants harness sunlight, researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) are pioneering a revolutionary treatment for dry eye disease.

20 May 2026

New AI chip identifies meibomian gland dysfunction within milliseconds

A research team from Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Tsinghua University has developed a compact optical AI chip that can identify meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-a major cause of dry eye disease-with more than 96% accuracy by analyzing the tissue's spectral signatures.

11 May 2026

Manuka honey eye drops outperform artificial tears for dry eye relief

A clinical study reveals Manuka honey eye drops significantly improve dry eye symptoms after cataract surgery, outperforming traditional treatments.

1 May 2026

Scientists reveal how the body senses cold and menthol

When you step outside on a winter morning or pop a mint into your mouth, a tiny molecular sensor in your body springs into action, alerting your brain to the sensation of cold.

22 Feb 2026

New tear gland organoids shed light on the biology of dry eye disease

An estimated 5-15% of people have problems with dry eyes, with symptoms including eye redness, stinging, or burning sensation, and eye fatigue. Dry eye disease (DED) occurs when the eyes' tear glands produce insufficient or poor-quality tears which can be due to allergy or autoimmune disease, hormonal changes, aging, etc.

18 Dec 2025

VR raises eye temperature and thickens protective tear layer

VR gaming impacts tear film dynamics, increasing lipid layer thickness and eye temperature, but fails to enhance tear stability or alleviate dry eye symptoms.

14 Nov 2025

Novel method uses VR headsets for real-time observation of tear film dynamics

Virtual reality (VR) gaming has gained significant attention in recent years, with an increasing number of users integrating VR and immersive headsets into their daily lives.

11 Nov 2025

Researchers link postmenopausal status to increased dry eye risk

Many symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, are commonly associated with the menopause transition. One of the lesser-known symptoms that worsens in midlife is dry eyes. A new study suggests that postmenopausal women exhibit a higher prevalence of dry eye disease than perimenopausal women.

21 Oct 2025

More than half of the general population experience dry eyes, yet only few receive professional care

Dry eyes can cause significant discomfort, and the symptoms become more common as we age. However, until now, it was unclear what proportion of the population suffered from the condition, with estimates ranging from 5-50%.

15 Sep 2025

Wayne State researchers pursue new treatments for ocular chemical injuries in military personnel

Researchers at Wayne State University are pursuing new therapies for treating chemical injuries to the eyes with the help of a two-year, $400,400 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

28 Aug 2025

Omega-3 rich diet linked to lower risk of childhood myopia

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, found predominantly in fish oils, may help ward off the development of short sightedness (myopia) in children, while a high intake of saturated fats, found in foods such as butter, palm oil, and red meat, may boost the risk of the condition, finds research published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

20 Aug 2025

New app helps relieve dry eye through optimized blinking routine

An Aston University optometrist, Professor James Wolffsohn, has determined an optimum blinking exercise routine for people suffering with dry eye disease, and has developed a new app, MyDryEye, to help them complete the routine to ease their symptoms.

19 Jun 2025

Microfluidic contact lenses emerge as next generation tools for eye care

The tear film coating the eye offers a window into a person's systemic and ocular health, carrying biomarkers such as glucose, electrolytes, and proteins.

31 May 2025

Study finds early signs of dry eye in most young adults

Researchers at Aston University have called for more advice to be given to young people about preventing dry eye disease, after a study carried out in conjunction with Oslo University Hospital and Sørlandet Hospital Trust in Norway found that 90% of participants had at least one sign of the condition in their eyes.

25 Apr 2025

Research uncovers root cause of gland damage in Sjögren's syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects millions worldwide, especially women, causing unrelenting dryness of the mouth and eyes.

7 Apr 2025

Dry air exposure linked to dehydration and inflammation in human airways

In a recent, cross-institutional study partially funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers report that healthy human airways are at higher risk for dehydration and inflammation when exposed to dry air, an occurrence expected to increase due to global warming.

17 Mar 2025