The holiday season is a time for connection – sharing festive meals with family, exchanging gifts with friends, and taking strolls with neighbors to admire the glittering lights and decorations. Yet, for many, the joy of these moments can be dulled by dry eye symptoms.
Dry eye can cause a range of symptoms, including itching, burning, watery, irritated, and tired eyes. It can even feel like you have something in your eye. If this sounds familiar, you’re far from alone. Dry eye symptoms affect approximately 150 million American adults. If you have progressive symptoms that keep coming back and are getting worse over time, you may be one of 38 million Americans impacted by chronic dry eye.
The discomfort caused by chronic dry eye can be hard to ignore. According to the 2024 State of Dry Eye Survey* conducted by Bausch + Lomb, eight in ten sufferers say they are constantly aware of how their eyes feel. Nearly half report that sometimes their symptoms are so pronounced they can practically “hear themselves blink.”
For Lynne, "suffering in silence" was her reality for years before she found lasting relief†. She shares her journey here.
When Dry Eye Takes the Fun Out of Socializing
“Dry eye greatly affected my life,” Lynne says. She never knew when her eyes would start watering nonstop. “I’d panic if I realized I forgot to pack tissues,” Lynne says, “and I’d often catch myself trying to ‘blink away’ the tears, which made me look silly. It was embarrassing.”
She began to dread social events. “I recall getting ready to go to a wedding,” Lynne says. “I was very excited about going, but also anxiety-ridden about my eyes watering constantly. Once at the wedding, my irritated and watery eyes made it difficult to have a good time or be fully present.”
The Cause of Chronic Dry Eye Goes Beyond Allergies or Getting Older
Lynne thought her symptoms might be caused by an allergic reaction, perhaps to makeup. As dry eye becomes increasingly common – due to modern factors like the hours we spend staring at our screens, environmental stressors, contact lens use, and underlying inflammation due to autoimmune conditions – we may mistake our tired, itchy, burning eyes for a normal part of aging. And, like Lynne, we might turn to over-the-counter eye drops for relief.
In fact, inflammation may be at the root of symptoms, especially when dry eye is chronic. While over-the-counter drops may temporarily pause the symptoms of dry eye, they don’t address the underlying cause.
Finding Lasting Relief†
“I lived with the on-and-off aggravation of my dry eye symptoms for a long time,” Lynne says. Finally, at the suggestion of a family member, Lynne made an appointment with her eye doctor. Together, they tried various treatment options, which led to XIIDRA® (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, a prescription eye drop used to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. XIIDRA is a twice-daily prescription eye drop designed to target inflammation and get to the root of chronic dry eye symptoms. “Everyone’s eyes are different,” she says, “but I started to notice an improvement after a couple of weeks. It’s been a few years, and dry eye hasn't been a problem for me.”
According to the 2025 State of Dry Eye survey** conducted by Bausch + Lomb, 78% of those who switched from an OTC to a prescription say they wish they had done so sooner.
As the holidays approach, Lynne has no concerns about joining celebrations. “XIIDRA is a game-changer,” she says. “It’s totally transformed my attitude about going out in public.”
Don’t let undiagnosed dry eye disease dim the season’s sparkle. With the right treatment, you can enjoy the lights, laughter, and connection of the holidays.
If you recognize the symptoms of chronic dry eye, talk to your eye doctor to see if XIIDRA is right for you or visit XIIDRA.com to learn more.
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.
†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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