Dry Eye Awareness Month: How to Alleviate Dry Eye Symptoms

Dr. Priya Mathews discusses new preservative-free products to help the millions of American adults affected by the common eye disease

From the LifeMinute.TV Team

July 15, 2024

Dry Eye Disease is a common eye disease that affects over 35 million Americans. It occurs when tears produced by the eyes do not keep the eyes sufficiently wet and can cause dry eye symptoms such as scratchy, burning eyes, redness, sensitivity to light or blurry vision. Dry Eye Disease can be a chronic condition that may be caused by many factors, including advanced age, contact lens wear, certain medications, eye diseases, other medical conditions, or environmental factors.

In recognition of Dry Eye Awareness Month, Dr. Priya Mathews, Director of Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease, Cataract, LASIK & Corneal Surgeon at the Center for Sight, has teamed up with REFRESH®, the #1 doctor-recommended brand with the #1 selling brand in preservative-free artificial tears.

Even though we recognize Dry Eye Awareness Month in July, the fact is that dry eye symptoms can occur at any point in the year and be caused by any number of factors. Some lifestyle and environmental factors that people should be aware of that could impact their daily eye health and/or cause dry eye symptoms include exposure to smoke, wind, or dry air blowing in the eyes from heating or air conditioning sources, as well as increased digital device screen time.

For example, for those who travel often, the air inside of airplanes can be very drying to the eyes. And for those who live active lifestyles, outdoor activities like playing sports or hiking can lead to wind or dry air exposure that can trigger dry eye symptoms. In these types of situations, it’s best to carry eye drops for use on-the-go before or after participating in these activities to get symptom relief when you need it.

People can experience temporary relief of dry eye symptoms from over the counter, or OTC, lubricating eye drops, which can help to ease dry eye symptoms. In fact, there are two new preservative-free REFRESH® products that AbbVie recently launched: REFRESH TEARS® PF and REFRESH® RELIEVA® PF XTRA.

When dry eye disease symptoms such as burning, irritation, and discomfort occur, REFRESH TEARS® PF and REFRESH® RELIEVA® PF XTRA can help to deliver temporary relief, but these eye drops are not a treatment, solution, or cure for dry eye disease. Both products come in soft squeeze, multidose bottles offering enhanced convenience and feature a double lockout system that keeps the drops sterile. They also both include AbbVie’s HydroCell® Technology, which is a proprietary NaCl-free glycerin-based solution that enables rehydration and maintains the volume of cells on the eye’s surface.

For those with sensitive eyes, there are preservative-free options like REFRESH TEARS® PF and REFRESH® RELIEVA® PF XTRA, which are formulated to help deliver temporary relief for dry eye disease symptoms such as burning, irritation, and discomfort, but are not a treatment, solution, or cure for dry eye disease. Preservative-free options are recommended for those with sensitive and more intense symptoms of dry eye. These types of eye drops are suited for those who need to use them more than 4 times per day.

Find these at Walmart in stores and online as well as online at Amazon as well as in store and online at other retail locations nationwide wherever over-the-counter eye drops are sold.

If you’re experiencing dry eye symptoms and are looking for a solution for symptom relief, visit RefreshEyeDrops.com or talk to your eye doctor about what option might be right for you.