Diseases & Conditions

Coping with dry eyes

Dry eye disease is extremely common, but many people miss or dismiss symptoms. Learn why that's a mistake and how you can treat it.

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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A mature woman holds her glasses in one hand and the bridge of her nose with the other.

Characterized by eyes that constantly feel irritated or tired, dry eye affects more than 16 million Americans, two-thirds of them women, according to the American Optometric Association. Despite its prevalence, however, dry eye is often dismissed as just part of getting older, says Dr. Thomas Dohlman, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear. But dry eye disease can significantly disrupt daily life and even threaten your vision.

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About the Author

photo of Maureen Salamon

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later covered health and medicine for a wide variety of websites, magazines, and hospitals. Her work has … See Full Bio
View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

photo of Thomas Dohlman, MD

Thomas Dohlman, MD, Contributor

Dr. Thomas Dohlman is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and a full-time member of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. He completed his BS from MIT and … See Full Bio
View all posts by Thomas Dohlman, MD
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