Dry eye means the tears are not enough or not of good enough quality. Most cases improve with simple care and drops. This page says what helps and when to be examined.

What is dry eye?

For comfort and good vision, the surface of the eye has to be covered with a layer of tears. In dry eye, either too few tears are made, or they evaporate too fast, or their quality is poor and they do not keep the surface of the eye moist.

Common signs:

A gritty or sandy feeling in the eye
Burning or stinging
Redness
Sensitivity to light
Blurred vision

Who is it for?

Factors named in the sources:

Age over 50
Being female
Contact lenses
Long use of screens without breaks
Dry air, wind, dust, smoke, air conditioning or heaters
Some medicines
Conditions such as lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome
Inflammation of the eyelid edge (blepharitis)

Most dryness is mild and gets better with simple care. Some cases are a sign of another problem, which an examination has to find.

How is it checked and treated?

The examination may include measuring the amount of tears, how fast they evaporate and the state of the eyelid edges. Depending on the cause and severity, the doctor suggests one or more of these:

Artificial tears. Available without prescription and the most common treatment for simple dryness. Gels and ointments are also available.
Prescription drops. For more severe cases, helping the eye to make more tears.
Changing the surroundings or a medicine. If something in the surroundings or one of your medicines plays a part.
Punctal plugs. Tiny plugs placed in the tear drainage channel so that more tears stay on the eye.
Eyelid surgery. In rare cases where the eyelid is loose and tears drain away too quickly.

Simple care measures named in the sources:

When working at a screen, take breaks, blink regularly and place the screen a little below eye level.
Avoid smoke, wind, and air conditioning or heaters blowing directly at you. A humidifier helps.
Clean the edges of the eyelids every day with warm (not hot) water and a cotton pad or soft tissue.
Wraparound sunglasses help outdoors.
Drink enough fluids and get enough sleep.
Use drops as instructed.

After treatment

Dry eye is mostly controlled with care and drops. If the doctor has started a treatment and you do not see improvement, tell them so they can change the approach, and do not try new drops on your own.

Risks

Mild dryness is usually harmless and only annoying. Severe dryness that is not treated can damage the cornea. The treatments also have side effects. For example, drops may sting or blur vision for a while. If a drop bothers you, let your doctor know.

When to call

If dry eye has not improved with simple care after a few weeks, or the shape of your eyelids has changed, book an examination.

Be examined sooner in these cases:

A red, painful eye
A red eye in a contact lens wearer, which may be a sign of infection

Go to the emergency department at once in these cases:

A change in vision, such as wavy lines, flashes of light or loss of vision
Pain when looking at light
A red eye with severe headache and nausea
A very dark red eye
An injury or something in the eye, such as glass or a particle

For more detail, see the guide “When should I get urgent help?”.

Dry eye