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Dry Eye Questionnaires Miss Most Demodex Blepharitis Symptoms, New AAOpt 2026 Research Finds
New research presented at the American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting found that standard dry eye questionnaire capture only 22.4% of the symptoms of Demodex blepharitis. Demodex blepharitis is an eyelid condition caused by an overgrowth of microscopic mites that live on the eyelashes. Researchers identified common symptoms including watery eyes, itching, burning, redness, dryness, eyelash loss, and crusting. None of the 63 eye questionnaire they screened were designed specifically for the condition.
A separate review of 22 studies found that patients with Demodex tend to have poorer oil gland function and less stable tears than those without it. Both research teams recommend examining the lids and lashes directly rather than relying on a symptom survey. If your eyes feel itchy or crusty along the lash line and artificial tears haven’t helped, ask us to take a closer look at your next visit.
