The Dry Eye Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hope and help to people with ocular surface diseases. We host support groups, forums, and educational content for dry eye patients who need community and practical solutions for their disease.

The Dry Eye Foundation is a small 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Poulsbo, Washington. DEF has long roots as a dedicated “by-and-for-patients” organization for the dry eye community. This work began almost 20 years ago as DryEyeZone, the popular patient information platform and online forum started by DEF co-founder Rebecca Petris.

The Dry Eye Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to improve quality of life for people with ocular surface diseases and ocular surface pain. The Foundation was established in 2018 as an outgrowth of the Dry Eye Zone, founded in 2005.

We see a new paradigm for dry eye care that identifies and addresses what we patients want and need: improvement to our symptoms and quality of life, not just the clinically measurable signs of disease that doctors, scientists, industry and regulators have historically prioritized.

800-484-0244 / [email protected] We're here to help!

From our community services to our education and advocacy efforts, the Dry Eye Foundation exists to help patients.

“Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neurosensory abnormalities play etiological roles.”

dry eye helpline. If you find yourself in crisis or just really struggling because of dry eye disease, and need to talk to someone who understands and can perhaps help you navigate your dry eye journey, please reach out! Scroll down for phone number or to schedule a call. We offer one-on-one peer counseling for those who are struggling.

If you have dry eye — also called dry eye disease or dry eye syndrome — it means something has gone wrong with some part of your tear system or tear film, resulting in compromised eye comfort, eye health, and/or vision.

Dry Eye Foundation was formed to help improve quality of life for people with dry eye - that is, with ocular surface diseases or ocular surface pain. Our community is generally people on the far end of the disease and symptom spectrum - people …