A bearing device includes a bearing having an inner ring and an outer ring, at least one of the inner and outer rings being capable of rotating concentrically relative to the other ring. A fiber optic sensor includes an array of optical strain gauges mounted on the inner ring or on the outer ring of the bearing and an optical interrogator is configured to measure the deformations of the inner ring or the outer ring from the optical strain gauges. A command device commands the optical interrogator, a first determining device determines a statistical parameter from random samples of measurements, and a second determining device determines the load acting on the bearing from the statistical parameter and a predetermined relationship between the statistical parameter and the load.