Bausch + Lomb to spotlight dry eye disease during National Dry Eye Awareness Month

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As part of its effort, the company is kicking off a new social media campaign in July designed to increase the understanding of dry eye disease.

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Bausch + Lomb Corp. announced it will kick off a new social media campaign designed to increase the understanding of dry eye disease (DED), one of the most common ocular surface disorders that impacts more than 38 million Americans, and the role of tear evaporation as a leading driver of the disease.

According to the company, the campaign, which will run throughout the month of July during National Dry Eye Awareness Month, will educate ophthalmologists and other clinicians as well as consumers about DED and create a dialogue between patients and their physicians.

“Dry eye disease has been traditionally known to impact older adults, but over the past decade eye care professionals have seen an increase in younger adult patients as a result of their multi-screen lifestyles, which is a major contributor of the disease,” Andrew Stewart, president, Pharmaceuticals, Bausch + Lomb, said in the news release. “As the face of dry eye disease evolves, so does the need for education and awareness, which is why we believe it’s important to provide eye care professionals and their patients with actionable information and insights.”

According to the news release, during the month of July, the company will post educational content and resources on its social media pages, including information on how people with DED are significantly more likely to report problems with performing everyday activities, such as reading, using a computer, watching television and driving.

Moreover, the company noted its effort also will spotlight the prevalence of excessive tear evaporation, which is experienced by approximately 9 in 10 patients who suffer from DED.

“If tear evaporation is not addressed, dry eye disease can worsen by triggering a cycle of ocular surface damage and inflammation,” Stewart concluded. “The goal of this campaign is to spark dialogue between eye care professionals and their patients to address the root cause of this issue.”