Register now for Dry Eye in DC

Two days of advocacy, education and community connection for people with ocular surface diseases.

Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12

Friday, July 11, Washington, DC

  • 7am - 11am; 1pm - 4:30pm, Capitol Hill

    What would you like lawmakers to know about the real life impact of dry eye disease? Join the Dry Eye Foundation and the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) for Dry Eye Disease Patient Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. Our friends at NAEVR will provide coaching to help you tell your story as you communicate effectively with your representatives, advocating for increased research, more effective solutions and expanded treatment access.

    This is a unique opportunity for the dry eye community to come together and help raise awareness about the impact of dry eye disease on our daily lives.

    Register

    Registration deadline: May 11 (In order to confirm congressional meetings, it is important that we have your commitment two months in advance). 

    Here’s what is involved:

    • Advocacy Day participants will attend a Zoom training two weeks in advance.

    • There will be an in-person training at 7am Eastern the day of the event at the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol.

    • Our partner will schedule up to 3 meetings with your members of Congress during Advocacy Day. Meetings will take place on Capitol Hill. 

    • Lunch will be provided at the Dry Eye Disease Congressional Briefing.

  • 12 noon - 1pm, Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2060

    Co-Host: National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR)

    Registration: We will accept RSVPs beginning June 2025.

  • 5pm - 7pm, Holiday Inn Washington DC Capitol - National Mall

    Meet dry eye patients participating in Friday and Saturday’s events. Description text goes here

    Registration: We will accept RSVPs beginning June 2025.

    Event sponsor: EyeCool Therapeutics, Inc., a US-based company studying a novel device-based solution for the treatment of ocular surface pain.

Saturday, July 12

Dry Eye Patient Symposium

8:30am - 4:30pm Eastern

Join us for Dry Eye Foundation's first ever national patient symposium! Our expert panelists (doctors and patients) bring a wealth of clinical and real-life experience to our packed curriculum at this full-day event.

Sessions range from examining disease impact and problem-solving discussions (including mental health) to disease, diagnosis and treatment topics, a deep dive into "What works?" from both scientific and real-world perspectives, strategies for bridging communication gaps in the patient-doctor relationship, and what the future of DED holds.

Doctor panelists: 

  • Sandra Brown MD

  • Gloria Chiu OD, FAAO, FSLS

  • Anat Galor MD, MSPH

  • Deborah Jacobs MD

Patient panelists: TBA

Moderators: Rebecca Petris and Aidan Moore

Virtual

Livestream our Symposium from anywhere!

Registration: Free
Suggested donation: $25

In Person

Early registration ends 4/15!

Holiday Inn Washington DC Capitol - National Mall
550 C St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Registration
Early registration (before 4/15): $75
DEF Member registration: $75
General registration: $100

Details
Enjoy connecting with fellow patients during meals and coffee breaks, and visiting sponsor tables to learn about new products. Don't miss this one-of-a-kind event!

  • Breakfast and registration opens at 7am

  • Breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks provided

Hotel
Group rate: $239/night + $15.95% tax. Book now.

Scholarships
If you would like to attend this event in person but cannot afford the registration fee or travel expenses, please apply for a scholarship. We expect to have a limited number of scholarships available.

More Information