Aging and dry eye disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is an eye condition that primarily affects up to 30% of adults aged 50 years and older, impacting visual function and quality of life. The prevalence of the condition increases with age. Common symptoms of dry eye include dry eyes, redness, a sensation of having a foreign object in the eye, eye pain, sensitivity to light, increased eye discharge, eye itching, and visual fatigue. In this paper, we systematically review the primary pathological mechanisms of dry eye, the impact of aging on dry eye, and current strategies for clinical treatment.