Surreal illustration linking dry eye disease, ADHD, and depression.

Is Your Dry Eye More Than Just Dryness? The Surprising Link Between Dry Eyes, ADHD, and Depression

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research reveals how dry eye disease can be connected to mental health, impacting both diagnosis and treatment."

Dry eye disease (DED) is a widespread condition affecting millions, characterized by discomfort, visual disturbances, and tear film instability. While often viewed as a purely physical ailment, emerging research suggests a deeper connection to mental health, particularly depression and ADHD. This challenges traditional approaches, highlighting the need for a more holistic perspective.

Traditionally, diagnosis relies on symptom reporting and clinical examinations. However, these subjective experiences don't always align. This inconsistency underscores the complexity of DED and prompts further investigation into underlying factors, including psychological conditions.

Recent studies have started to uncover significant correlations between dry eye disease and various psychiatric symptoms. This article explores these connections, drawing from a study examining the prevalence of depression, anxiety, ADHD, job stress, and sleep problems in individuals with dry eye disease. We'll delve into the implications and explore how this knowledge can lead to better diagnosis and more comprehensive treatment strategies.

The Surprising Connection: Dry Eyes, ADHD, and Mental Well-being

Surreal illustration linking dry eye disease, ADHD, and depression.

A groundbreaking study conducted in Korea sheds light on the intricate relationship between dry eye disease and mental health. Researchers compared individuals experiencing dry eye symptoms with a control group to assess differences in depression, anxiety, ADHD, job stress, and sleep problems. The findings revealed a significant association between dry eye disease and these psychological factors, suggesting a more complex interplay than previously understood.

The study, which involved 139 participants with dry eye symptoms and 363 control subjects, utilized self-reported questionnaires to evaluate various psychological parameters. The results indicated that the dry eye group exhibited significantly higher scores in several key areas:

Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI): Indicating greater discomfort and functional limitations related to dry eye symptoms.
Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D): Suggesting a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms.
Korean Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scales (K-AADHS): Highlighting a potential link between dry eye disease and ADHD.
Korean version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K): Implying poorer sleep quality among individuals with dry eye disease.

Further analysis revealed that depression and ADHD symptoms significantly increased the odds ratio for dry eye disease, suggesting a strong correlation between these conditions. These findings underscore the importance of considering mental health factors in the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease. It's vital to understand the underlying mechanisms connecting these conditions.

A Holistic Approach to Dry Eye Treatment

Given the strong associations between dry eye disease and mental health challenges, a holistic approach to treatment is essential. Addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of the condition can lead to better outcomes and improved quality of life. It highlights the need for collaborative care, involving ophthalmologists and mental health professionals.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What is Dry Eye Disease (DED), and what are its primary symptoms?

Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a widespread condition characterized by discomfort, visual disturbances, and tear film instability. Although often considered a physical ailment, emerging research reveals a deeper connection to mental health, especially depression and ADHD. The symptoms are measured by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI).

How does the traditional approach to diagnosing Dry Eye Disease (DED) fall short, and why is a more holistic perspective needed?

Traditionally, Dry Eye Disease (DED) diagnosis relies on symptom reporting and clinical examinations. However, these subjective experiences often don't align, highlighting the complexity of DED. This inconsistency suggests that underlying factors, including psychological conditions like depression and ADHD symptoms measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Korean Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scales (K-AADHS) respectively, play a significant role, prompting the need for a more holistic perspective that considers both physical and mental health.

What did the Korean study reveal about the relationship between Dry Eye Disease and mental health?

The Korean study compared individuals with Dry Eye Disease symptoms to a control group. The study used self-reported questionnaires like the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), Korean Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scales (K-AADHS), and Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K). The dry eye group exhibited significantly higher scores in depression, anxiety, ADHD, job stress, and sleep problems, pointing to a significant association between Dry Eye Disease and these psychological factors.

Besides depression and ADHD, what other psychological factors were found to be associated with Dry Eye Disease (DED) in the Korean study?

The Korean study, which involved 139 participants with Dry Eye Disease and 363 control subjects, also found associations between Dry Eye Disease and job stress, and sleep problems. The study used the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K) to measure sleep quality. These findings, alongside those related to depression and ADHD symptoms measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Korean Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scales (K-AADHS) respectively, suggest that individuals with Dry Eye Disease may experience a broader range of psychological challenges.

Given the connection between Dry Eye Disease and mental health, what type of treatment approach is recommended, and why is it important?

Given the strong associations between Dry Eye Disease and mental health challenges, a holistic treatment approach is essential. This approach addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of the condition, leading to better outcomes and improved quality of life. Collaborative care involving ophthalmologists and mental health professionals is crucial to comprehensively manage Dry Eye Disease, considering factors such as depression measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) , ADHD symptoms, job stress, and sleep quality assessed using the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K).