The DEAUK hosted its annual education day at Aston University on 8th Nov 2025. It was attended in person by around 65 patients and their carers and was kindly sponsored by Bausch & Lomb, Scope, Thea and Santen.
We were able to record some of the lectures:
Patient-Reported Experiences and Priorities from the afternoon Discussion Groups
- Symptom Profile
Patients report severe and unpredictable symptoms including:
- Persistent pain, often described as burning, chemical, or abrasive
- Eyelids sticking together overnight
- Light sensitivity (photophobia)
- Pain triggered by noise or rubbing the eyes
- Significant discomfort preventing multitasking
- Acute, chemical-like sensations
- Impact on Daily Living
Dry Eye Disease significantly reduces quality of life. Reported impacts include:
- Inability to drive at night or early in the morning
- Difficulty with computer-based work and screen use
- Disrupted sleep
- Avoidance of air-conditioned environments (shops, hotels, cars, planes)
- Challenges with reading and watching digital screens
- Constant need to carry eye-care supplies
- Additional travel burdens and practical inconvenience
- Financial strain due to treatments not being NHS-funded
- Emotional and Mental Health Effects
Patients report:
- Frustration and overwhelm
- Worsening mental health, including anxiety
- Feeling unsupported or not taken seriously
- Loss of confidence
- Emotional fatigue due to chronic, unpredictable symptoms
- Co-Existing or Possibly Related Conditions
Patients believe several issues may influence or exacerbate dry eye, including:
- Tinnitus
- Neck pain
- Allergies
- Autoimmune factors
- Hormonal influences (including testosterone)
- Trigeminal nerve involvement
- Photophobia
- Healthcare Experience
Patients identify multiple barriers:
- Limited GP awareness of dry eye complications
- Variable support from opticians
- Ophthalmology sometimes offering treatment without follow-up
- Difficulty obtaining prescriptions
- Lack of specialised dry eye clinics
- Inconsistent advice and reduced continuity of care
- Language Used to Describe Dry Eye
Common descriptors include:
Miserable, depressing, distressing, debilitating, anger-inducing, confidence-reducing.
- Research Needs Identified by Patients
Patients priorities research into:
- Improved biomarkers and diagnostic clarity
- Pain-targeting eye drops
- Hormonal and androgen-related mechanisms
- Neuropathic elements
- Probing and procedural interventions
- Development of new therapies
- Increased global awareness and validation
- Accurate prevalence data
- Broader research to expand treatment options
Research is viewed as essential for improving credibility, care pathways, and treatment innovation.
- Recommendations for Public Awareness
Suggested methods include:
- Posters in GP practices, pharmacies, and opticians
- Social media campaigns (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Snapchat, Telegram)
- University and student outreach
- Local conferences and workshops
- Public campaigns and radio segments
- Leaflets included inside eye-drop packaging
- Accessible apps and sign-up schemes for eye drops or testing.
