Who We Are

The Dry Eye Society of the Americas (DESA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing awareness, education, and collaboration in dry eye disease.

Founded at the end of 2025, DESA was created to address a growing and often overlooked public health challenge. Dry eye disease affects millions of individuals across North America and globally, yet remains widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. DESA exists to elevate dry eye disease as a serious, chronic condition and to improve outcomes and quality of life for those affected.

Our Mission

DESA advances awareness, education, and patient-centered care to improve the lives of individuals living with dry eye disease.

Why DESA Was Founded

Dry eye disease is complex, multifactorial, and deeply impactful—affecting vision, comfort, productivity, and overall well-being. Despite its prevalence, many patients experience long delays in diagnosis, inconsistent care, and a lack of clear, trusted information.

DESA was founded to close these gaps by bringing together patients, eye care professionals, researchers, industry leaders, and advocates under a shared mission: to move dry eye care forward through collaboration, education, and evidence-based dialogue.

Who We Serve

DESA serves a broad and interconnected community, including:

Patients & Caregivers
Providing trusted information, education, and advocacy to help individuals better understand and manage dry eye disease.

Eye Care Professionals
Supporting clinicians through education, collaboration, and a platform focused on advancing dry eye diagnosis and care.

Researchers & Innovators
Fostering dialogue and collaboration that supports scientific progress and innovation in dry eye disease.

Industry & Partners
Engaging mission-aligned organizations committed to ethical, patient-centered advancement in dry eye care.

Our Leadership & Expertise

DESA is guided by a global board of over 20 internationally recognized eye care professionals, representing ophthalmology, optometry, research, and clinical innovation from around the world.

These leaders are among the most respected experts in dry eye disease and help ensure that DESA’s initiatives remain:

• Evidence-based

• Clinically relevant

• Patient-centered

• Ethically grounded

Their collective expertise shapes DESA’s educational programs, advocacy efforts, and long-term strategic direction.

Our Commitment

As a nonprofit organization, DESA is committed to:

• Transparency and responsible stewardship of funds

• Ethical collaboration with partners and sponsors

• Elevating the patient voice

• Advancing education and awareness grounded in science

DESA works to serve as a trusted, independent platform where progress in dry eye disease can be shared, discussed, and advanced for the benefit of patients and the broader eye care community.

Looking Ahead

DESA continues to grow as a national and global resource for dry eye education, collaboration, and advocacy. Through community engagement, educational initiatives, and professional conferences, we are working to shape a future where dry eye disease is better understood, better treated, and taken seriously at every level of care.

DESA at a Glance

• Founded: 2025

• Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

• Leadership: 20+ global dry eye experts

• Community: 500+ members and growing

Founding board members (Last updated 1/19/26):
Rolando Toyos, MD, USA, Samer Hamada, MD, UK, Adriana Fierro, MD, Colombia, Juan Carlos Serna-Ojeda, MD, Mexico, Mahnia Madan, OD, Canada, Cristobal Cruz Colón, Puerto Rico, Pedram Hamrah, MD, USA, Andrés Benatti, MD, Argentina, Jake Lang, OD, USA, Lisa Njim, MD, USA, Nikolina Budimilja, MD, Ireland, Giovanni Tedesco, Italy, Reiko Arita, MD, Japan, Wes McCann, OD, Canada, Jose M. Benitez-del-Castillo, MD, Spain, Liliana Nobrega Cordeiro, MD, Brazil, Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, USA, Francois Piuze, OD, Canada, Melissa Toyos, MD, USA, Judith Portorreál, MD, Dominican Republic, Luca Gauldi, MD, Italy, Cristián Cartes, MD, Chile, Edward Jaccoma, MD, USA, Luca Vigo, MD, Italy, Hiten Prajapati, OD, USA, Kristen Brown, OD, USA, Lindsey Harris, OD, USA, Julie Loffredi, Patient Advocate, USA, Rod Solar, Healthcare Marketing, UK, Lina Preciado, MD, Mexico, Amanda Cardwell Carones, MPH, Italy, Anoud Alsaati, MD, Saudi Arabia, Katherine Mastrota, OD, USA, Monica Alves, MD, PhD, Brazil, Mary Phelps, Patient Counselor, USA, Lauren McLoughlin, OD, USA.