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Columbus, OH (July 7, 2025) – Prevent Blindness Ohio is declaring July Dry Eye Month to raise awareness and educate the public and healthcare professionals about dry eye. The National Eye Institute states that nearly 16.4 million Americans have dry eye. And, if severe dry eye is not treated, it can sometimes damage the cornea and negatively impact quality of life.
Prevent Blindness Ohio has created a variety of free dry eye resources including a dedicated webpage, fact sheets and social media graphics available in English and Spanish, and videos, including how to apply eye drops. For the fifth consecutive year, OCuSOFT ® Inc., a privately held eye and skin care company dedicated to innovation in eyelid hygiene and ocular health, is partnering with Prevent Blindness in support of Dry Eye Month.
Two featured interviews in the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Expert Series include:
- “Dry Eye” with Prevent Blindness Board of Directors Member Stephanie Jones Marioneaux, MD.
Risk factors for dry eye include:
- Being more than 50 years old
- Hormonal changes or medicines that affect hormones
- Refractive surgery (for example, Lasik)
- Inflammation of the eyelids
- Environmental conditions, such as allergies, exposure to smoke, or a dry climate
- Contact lenses
- Poor make-up hygiene
- Medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, rosacea, Sjögren syndrome, and certain other autoimmune diseases
- Decreased blink rate: Can be caused by frequent computer or device use or occurs in certain diseases, such as Parkinson’s
- Eyelid conditions that cause eyelids to not close completely
- Extended screen time on digital devices such as a computer, tablet or smart phone
Additionally, certain medicines may cause decreased tear production, including antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, and medicines for high blood pressure, acne, birth control, and Parkinson's disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Women are twice as likely to develop dry eye than men. Women who are pregnant or experiencing menopause are also more likely to have dry eye.
“A number of treatment options are available for dry eye that can help address symptoms and save sight,” said Amy Pulles, President & CEO, Prevent Blindness Ohio. “We invite everyone to check out our free dry eye resources and make an appointment with an eye doctor to find out what type of treatment is best for them.”
For more information on dry eye, please visit the Prevent Blindness resource page at PreventBlindness.org/understanding-dry-eye. Or contact Prevent Blindness Ohio at (800) 301-2020 or pbohio.org.
Prevent Blindness also offers a free listing of vision care financial assistance services in English and Spanish at: preventblindness.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information.
About Prevent Blindness Ohio
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness serves all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to 1,000,000 Ohioans annually and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. For more information or to contribute, call 800-301-2020 or donate here. Visit us at pbohio.org. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/pbohio/ and X: twitter.com/PB_Ohio
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