Symptoms
- Gritty, burning or sandy feeling
- Tired eyes that worsen through the day
- Blurring that improves on blinking
- Watery eyes (reflex tearing)
- Discomfort with contact lenses or screens
Dry eye
Dry eye disease happens when your tears can’t keep the eye surface comfortable — usually because the oily layer of the tear film is inadequate. It’s extremely common, worsened by screens, and very manageable.
Medically reviewed by Mr Mohamed Mohyudin, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon GMC 7039600
Why it happens
Most dry eye is evaporative: the meibomian glands in the eyelids under-deliver the oil that stops tears evaporating. Screen use (which halves blink rate), age, hormonal changes, some medicines and lid inflammation (blepharitis) all contribute.
Treatment
Consistent home therapy — lubricating drops, daily warm compresses and lid hygiene — controls most dry eye. Persistent cases benefit from specialist assessment, where prescription options and in-clinic treatments exist.
Self-care that helps
Preservative-free lubricating drops as needed; a 10-minute microwavable warm compress daily; the 20-20-20 screen rule with deliberate full blinks; omega-3-rich diet or supplement.
When to get help
Eye pain, marked light sensitivity, sudden vision change or one increasingly red eye are not normal dry eye — seek prompt assessment. Otherwise, if a month of consistent self-care hasn’t helped, get checked.
Go deeper
Related guides
Blepharitis: the eyelid condition behind so many irritated eyes
Consultant-reviewed guide to blepharitis — symptoms, the daily routine that controls it, and how it links to styes, chalazia and dry eye.
Dry eye: why it happens and what genuinely helps
A consultant ophthalmic surgeon's guide to dry eye disease — from screen habits and MGD to drops, warm compresses and when to seek help.
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