Dry eye is increasingly common and can range from occasional or acute symptoms of dryness to a chronic condition called dry eye disease, which affects an estimated 38 million Americans and can cause inflammation, friction when blinking, and damage to the surface of the eye. Still, many people don’t realize they may be dealing with dry eye.
That was true for Lynne, whose symptoms appeared suddenly and, at first, didn’t seem connected to the condition at all. “One day my eyes just became exceptionally watery, and I thought it was an allergic reaction to something, or maybe old makeup. So, I ignored it.”
But when her watery eyes flared up during a family wedding, the frustration became undeniable. “It was difficult to have a good time as my irritated, watery eyes had become impossible to ignore.”
Like many people navigating midlife, Lynne had a lot on her plate—family, commitments, and a busy schedule. Dry eye symptoms weren’t supposed to take center stage. Yet they did.
It wasn’t until she spoke with an eye doctor that Lynne discovered her path to relief.
The role of inflammation in chronic dry eye
Lynne’s journey is one that countless people can relate to. According to the 2024 State of Dry Eye Survey* conducted by Bausch + Lomb, eight in 10 sufferers of dry eye are constantly aware of how their eyes feel, and close to half report that sometimes their symptoms are so bad, they can practically “hear themselves blink.”
When dry eye is chronic, symptoms are progressive and can keep coming back and get worse over time. If they do, underlying inflammation may be at the root of the problem.
Chronic inflammation is present in up to 65% of dry eye sufferers. For those with preexisting inflammatory health issues—such as autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes—it may be a systemic issue that also impacts the eyes.
Dry eye can be influenced by several factors, including lifestyle, such as increased screen time, medications, hormonal changes, age, environment, contact lens wear and co-morbidities. Despite this, many people assume it’s simply a normal part of aging. In reality, it’s a condition that can be managed with the proper treatment.
Choosing to speak up
Lynne admits she suffered in silence for a while.
“The most challenging part was never knowing how bad it would be on any given day,” she explains. Like many people, she downplayed her symptoms—telling herself they weren’t serious enough to bring up compared to other health concerns. That left her quietly struggling, even as the condition weighed heavily on her day-to-day life.
“After struggling with irritated and watery eyes for too long and finding that many over-the-counter (OTC) drops were not providing adequate relief, my uncle encouraged me to make an appointment with my eye doctor,” she says.
Finding the right treatment
With the help from her doctor, Lynne was able to address the underlying inflammation at the root of her symptoms with XIIDRA (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, a prescription eye drop that treats both the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
“It took a few tries to find what worked best for me, but when I tried XIIDRA, I started to see my symptoms improve after a couple of weeks,” she says.
XIIDRA is the only nonsteroid anti-inflammatory prescription that may offer lasting relief of symptoms in as little as two weeks for some patients with continued twice-daily use.†
According to the 2025 State of Dry Eye survey** conducted by Bausch + Lomb, 78% of patients who switched from OTC drops to a prescription said they wished they had done so sooner. On average, patients tried three OTC products before making the switch.
Living fully, again
Since starting treatment, Lynne’s symptoms have remained under control.
“It’s been a few years, and my symptoms have been managed,” she says. “I can’t begin to tell you what a game-changer it is not to have to deal with persistent symptoms every day.”
She now encourages others not to wait as long as she did.
“I am always recommending those with similar symptoms to talk to their eye doctor,” Lynne says. “Finding a prescription treatment option that worked for me helped me better enjoy my day-to-day activities. Why suffer when you don’t have to? Thanks to XIIDRA, I’m able to be present each day.”
Take the next step
Chronic dry eye doesn’t have to define your daily life. If you’ve been living with persistent irritation, itchy or watery eyes, talk to your eye doctor about whether prescription treatment options like XIIDRA may be right for you.
To learn more, visit XIIDRA.com.
Indication
Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% is a prescription eye drop used to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Important Safety Information
- Do not use Xiidra if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Seek medical care immediately if you get any symptoms of an allergic reaction.
- The most common side effects of Xiidra include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when the drops are applied to the eyes, and an unusual taste sensation.
- To help avoid eye injury or contamination of the solution, do not touch the container tip to your eye or any surface. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before using Xiidra and wait for at least 15 minutes before placing them back in your eyes.
- It is not known if Xiidra is safe and effective in children under 17 years of age.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
For additional safety information, click here for Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information and discuss with your doctor.
Sources
†Xiidra may provide lasting symptom relief for some patients with continued twice-daily use. In clinical studies, Xiidra reduced symptoms of eye dryness at 2 weeks in 2 out of 4 studies, with improvements observed at 6 and 12 weeks in all 4 studies.
*The 2024 State of Dry Eye Harris Poll surveyed 2,003 U.S. adults on their understanding of, and experiences with, dry eye. Of those, 461 disclosed that they often/always experience eye dryness and/or have been diagnosed with dry eye disease (referred to as “sufferers”) and 1,542 non-sufferers. “Respondents” or “Americans” refers to all 2,003 survey participants.
**The 2025 State of Dry Eye Harris Poll surveyed 732 U.S. adults aged 18 or older who often/always experience eye dryness and/or have been diagnosed by a healthcare professional with dry eye disease (referred to as “sufferers of dry eye”) on their experiences with dry eye and relief options. Of those 347 disclosed taking only an over-the-counter product and 385 disclosed taking a prescription medication for their dry eye.
© 2025 Bausch + Lomb.
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