Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears, or the tears dry up too fast. It makes eyes feel gritty, burning or tired, and, confusingly, it can also make them water. Long screen time, air-conditioned wards and age all make it more common.
Imagine finishing a 12-hour shift under hospital air conditioning, then spending the evening on your phone, and waking with eyes that feel full of sand. A few simple habits and the right drops can change that within days.
Quick answer: Use lubricating eye drops (artificial tears) from a pharmacy, take regular screen breaks, and use a warm compress and gentle lid cleaning if your eyelids are crusty. See an optometrist or doctor if it doesn’t improve, or urgently if you have eye pain or changes in vision.
Symptoms
- Gritty, sandy, burning or itchy eyes
- Redness and tired eyes
- Blurred vision that clears when you blink
- Watery eyes, as the eye over-reacts to dryness
- Discomfort with contact lenses
Common causes
- Screens: we blink much less when we concentrate
- Dry, air-conditioned or heated environments, wind and smoke
- Ageing and hormonal changes, including menopause
- Contact lenses
- Blepharitis (inflamed eyelid edges)
- Some medicines, such as antihistamines and some antidepressants
- Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren’s syndrome
What helps
- Lubricating eye drops, gels or ointments; preservative-free drops are better if you use them often
- The 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds, and blink fully
- Warm compresses and lid hygiene once or twice a day
- Keep rooms less dry, avoid smoke and point fans away from your face
- Take contact lenses out for part of the day
When to see someone
See an optometrist or doctor if symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep coming back. Get urgent help for a painful red eye, sensitivity to light, or any change in vision, as these are not typical of simple dry eye.
But my eyes water all the time. How can they be dry?
Watering is often the eye’s reflex response to dryness: the surface gets irritated, so it floods with thin tears that don’t protect it well. Lubricating drops often reduce the watering.
Your next step: Buy preservative-free lubricating drops, set a reminder for screen breaks, and try a warm compress tonight. If nothing helps in two weeks, book an eye check.
Sources: NHS, “Dry eyes”; US National Eye Institute, “Dry eye”. This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own nurse, doctor or pharmacist.
Leave a Reply