Objective: To understand the literature distribution characteristics of dry eye research in the world in the last 5 years, and to analyze the research trend and hotspots in this field. Methods: Based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to evaluate the global research trends related to dry eye. Knowledge mappings were constructed by VOSviewer v.1.6.16 to visualize the publications, the distribution of countries, international collaborations, author productivity, source journals, and research hotspots in this fifield. In addition, CiteSpace IV was used to capture the keywords of outbreaks and to explore the rise and fall of hotspots. Research frontiers could be discovered by this analysis. Results: In total, 2 567 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved on dry eye research from 2016 to 2020. The United States ranked the highest among countries withthe most publications. The most productive institution was the Keio University. Kazuo Tsubota contributed the largest number of publications in this field, and MA Lemp was the most cited author. Ocular Surface was the most prolific journal in dry eye research. The top-cited references were mainly about the reports of the International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). The most cited literature was mainly dry eye series reports by TFOS Dry Eye Workshop II. Six categories were obtained by cluster analysis: 1) pathogenic mechanism and pathophysiology; 2) definition and classification; 3) epidemiological study; 4) treatment; 5) secondary dry eye; 6) diagnosis. Current research foreword is ocular pain, rebamipide, small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery, and tear film dynamics. Conclusion: Through the bibliometrics analysis of the international literature in the field of dry eye in the past five years, this study visualized the current research status, hotspots, and frontier in this field. Leading topics in dry eye research are eye pain, rebamipide, SMILE surgery, and tear dynamics.