Dry Eye
If your eyes burn, sting, or feel gritty, dry eye disease may be the cause. Tens of millions of Americans deal with it, and without treatment, symptoms can get worse over time. The good news is that an eye doctor can find the root cause and put together a plan that brings real, lasting relief.
What is
Dry Eye?
Check Your Symptoms
Not sure if what you are feeling is dry eye? Take a quick quiz to check your symptoms and get a better sense of what may be going on.
Dry Eye Assessment Quiz
Dry eye syndrome happens when your eyes cannot keep a stable layer of tears on the surface. Either your eyes do not make enough tears, or the tears you do make evaporate too quickly because the protective oil layer is damaged or missing. This leaves the surface of the eye exposed and leads to irritation, discomfort, and over time, possible damage to the cornea if the problem is not addressed.
Dry eye symptoms range from mild to severe and often include stinging or burning eyes, persistent redness, excessive tearing, a gritty or sandy feeling, sensitivity to light, tired eyes, blurry vision, stringy discharge, and discomfort when wearing contact lenses. If any of these feel familiar, an eye doctor can identify the underlying cause and recommend the right treatment for you.
The most common cause is meibomian gland dysfunction, a condition where the oil-producing glands along the edges of your eyelids become blocked or stop working as they should. This accounts for the vast majority of dry eye cases. Other causes include Sjogren's syndrome (an autoimmune condition that reduces tear production), aging, hormonal changes, certain medications such as antidepressants and antihistamines, extended screen use, contact lens wear, and environmental conditions like wind, low humidity, and air conditioning.
While anyone can develop dry eye, certain groups face a higher risk. Symptoms become more common after age 40 and affect the majority of people over 65. Women are about 70% more likely to develop dry eye disease, largely due to hormonal changes. Contact lens wearers face roughly four times the risk compared to non-wearers. Smoking, prolonged screen time, and medical conditions such as diabetes, lupus, and thyroid disorders also raise the chances of developing dry eye.
What Happens When Dry Eye Goes Untreated?
When dry eye is not treated, the problem tends to feed on itself. Too few tears lead to irritation and inflammation on the cornea, which then makes it harder for your eyes to produce healthy tears. Over time, in cases that go untreated for extended periods, this cycle can lead to scarring on the eye surface and lasting changes to your vision. Getting help early breaks this pattern before it gets worse. An eye doctor can find the cause of your symptoms and create a plan that works for you.
How Dry Eye Treatment
Helps You See Better
A steady tear film is what keeps your vision clear and comfortable. When tears break up too fast or spread unevenly across the eye, light scatters as it enters, causing vision that blurs or changes throughout the day. This tends to be most noticeable when reading, working on a screen, or driving at night. Dry eye treatment restores the balance of the tear film, which keeps the surface of the eye smooth so your vision stays sharp. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a condition involving blocked oil glands in the eyelids, is the most common reason the tear film breaks down, and treating it is often the key to real improvement.
Improving Quality of Life Through Dry Eye Care
Dry eye does not just affect your eyes. It can make reading, working at a computer, driving in the evening, and enjoying time outdoors feel frustrating. Many people live with the discomfort for months or years without realizing how much relief is within reach. Treatment options range from omega-3 supplements and warm compresses to prescription eye drops, punctal plugs, specialized contact lenses, and in-office therapies that target blocked oil glands. Your eye doctor can figure out which combination of treatments will bring you the most relief.
Understanding Dry Eye Resources and Tools
Getting relief from dry eye starts with knowing what is causing your symptoms and what your options are. You can check your symptoms with the quiz below, or use the Specialty Vision directory to find an eye doctor near you who specializes in dry eye care.
Your tear film is made up of three layers that work together to keep your eyes comfortable and your vision clear. The outer oil layer, made by glands along the edges of your eyelids, seals in moisture and slows evaporation. The middle water layer, produced by tear glands above your eyes, hydrates the surface and washes away debris. The inner mucin layer acts as a base, helping tears spread evenly across the eye. When any one of these layers breaks down, the whole system is affected.
Over 86% of dry eye patients show signs of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), making it the single most common driver of the condition. These small glands line the edges of your eyelids and produce the protective oil layer of your tears. When they become blocked or stop working properly, tears evaporate far too quickly, leaving the eye surface exposed and irritated. MGD often occurs alongside blepharitis, a related inflammatory condition of the eyelids.
Age is one of the biggest risk factors, with symptoms becoming more common after 40 and affecting most people over 65. Women face a higher risk due to hormonal shifts that happen throughout life. Spending long hours on screens lowers your blink rate, which dries the surface of the eye, and wearing contact lenses increases risk by roughly four times. Medical conditions like Sjogren's syndrome, diabetes, lupus, and thyroid disorders, along with medications like antihistamines and antidepressants, can also contribute. Dry, windy, or air-conditioned environments put additional strain on the tear film.
Treatment for dry eye starts with identifying what is causing your specific symptoms. Things you can do at home include taking omega-3 supplements, using a heated eye mask to soften blocked oil glands, and keeping your eyelids clean. Your eye doctor may also recommend prescription eye drops that reduce inflammation, punctal plugs that help your tears stay on the eye longer, or in-office treatments that clear blocked glands using heat and gentle pressure. The right plan will depend on your situation, and a dry eye specialist can guide you toward the options most likely to help.
See the Difference Dry Eye Treatment Can Make
Learning how your tears work and what causes them to break down is the first step toward feeling better. The topics at the left cover the key facts your eye doctor will look at when building a treatment plan for you. Take a few minutes to explore them, then use the button below to find a practice that can help.
Learn More About
Dry Eye Conditions
Dry eye has many possible causes, and knowing more about yours can help you get the right treatment faster. Explore these topics to understand what may be driving your symptoms and what your options are.