Dry eyes occur when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. This leads to irritation, redness, itchiness, blurred vision, and discomfort, especially when wearing contact lenses.
Healthy tears have three layers: mucus (to help tears adhere to the eye), watery (to wash away debris and fight infection), and oily (to prevent evaporation).
Common causes of dry eyes include aging, medical conditions, vitamin A deficiency, prolonged screen time, eye surgeries, certain medications, and environmental factors such as smoke or wind.
If left untreated, dry eyes can cause inflammation, corneal ulcers, and infections. Diagnosis involves tests such as the Schirmer’s test and tear breakup time (TBUT). Treatment depends on the cause and may include lubricating eye drops, ointments, punctal plugs, or surgery.
Self-care measures like using humidifiers, taking omega-3 supplements, warm compresses, blinking often, and avoiding smoke or excessive air conditioning can help maintain eye moisture and comfort.
Dry eyes are a common condition that affects the lubrication and moisture balance of the eyes. Without adequate tears, the eyes can feel dry and irritated, as though there’s dust or grit stuck in them. People may experience blurry vision, redness, itchiness, and sensitivity to light. Wearing contact lenses can also become painful.
Sometimes, the body produces an excess of reflex tears to compensate for the dryness, but these are mostly water—they can wash out debris but evaporate quickly. Chronic dryness can lead to inflammation and damage to the eye’s surface.
Tears are not just water. They are a complex mixture of water, oil, and mucus, each forming a specific layer that protects and nourishes the eyes:
The eyes continuously produce tears to stay lubricated and self-cleaning. Tears wash away dust and bacteria, while crying under emotional stress may help release stress hormones—though more research is needed to confirm this benefit.
People with dry eyes may experience:
The tear film may become unstable or insufficient due to several reasons:
If left untreated, dry eyes can lead to:
Diagnosis begins with an eye examination and a review of your medical and environmental history. Several tests may be recommended:
Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may include:
Your ophthalmologist will determine which treatment is best for your specific condition.
In addition to medical treatment, lifestyle adjustments can help maintain eye moisture:
Dry eyes are common but manageable with early diagnosis and the right care. Maintaining good eye hygiene, staying hydrated, and following your ophthalmologist’s advice can protect your vision and keep your eyes healthy and comfortable.
Dry eyes can cause persistent discomfort and affect your daily activities, but early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help protect your eye health. If you experience ongoing dryness, irritation, redness, or blurred vision, consult an eye specialist for personalised care. Kauvery Hospital, with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, offers expert medical care to help you maintain healthy eyes and clear vision.
What are the common symptoms of dry eyes?
Common symptoms include burning, itching, redness, light sensitivity, blurred vision and a gritty or sandy sensation. Some people also experience watery eyes or discomfort when wearing contact lenses.
What causes dry eyes?
Dry eyes occur when the eyes do not produce enough tears or tears evaporate too quickly. Common causes include ageing, prolonged screen time, certain medical conditions, medications, blocked meibomian glands, vitamin A deficiency and environmental irritants.
Why do my eyes water when they feel dry?
Dry eyes can trigger reflex tearing as the body attempts to relieve irritation. These tears may contain insufficient components to maintain a stable tear film, so they can evaporate quickly without resolving the underlying dryness.
How are dry eyes diagnosed?
An ophthalmologist may examine the eyes and eyelids using a slit lamp, measure tear production with a Schirmer’s test or assess tear evaporation using tear breakup time (TBUT). Additional tests may be considered when an underlying inflammatory or allergic condition is suspected.
What treatments are available for dry eyes?
Treatment depends on the cause and severity. Options include lubricating eye drops, nighttime eye ointments, punctal plugs to slow tear drainage and, in selected cases, procedures to close the tear ducts.
How can I relieve dry eyes while using a computer?
Take regular screen breaks using the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Blink consciously, avoid direct airflow from air conditioners and consider lubricating eye drops if recommended by an eye specialist.
Can medications cause dry eyes?
Yes. Certain medicines used for depression, glaucoma, pain and blood pressure may contribute to dry eyes. If you suspect a medication is causing symptoms, consult your ophthalmologist or prescribing doctor rather than stopping it yourself.
When should I consult an ophthalmologist for dry eyes?
Consult an ophthalmologist if dryness, redness, irritation or blurred vision persists or affects daily activities. An eye specialist can identify the cause and recommend suitable treatment to help protect the eye surface and vision.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet, Radial Road & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and paediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Radial Road – 044 6111 6111 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Maa Kauvery Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Kauvery Cancer Institute, Trichy – 0431 4077777 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 68011
