Condition

Dry Eye Syndrome

Also known as Dry Eye Disease, DED, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, Ocular Surface Disease, Tear Film Dysfunction

Updated May 16, 2026For educational purposes only. Not a substitute for medical advice. See our terms.

Bottom Line

Dry eye happens when your eyes do not make enough tears, or the tears dry up too fast. It causes burning, gritty eyes and blurry vision, but drops, warm compresses, and other treatments can help most people feel better.

Dry eye is one of the most common eye problems in the world. About 5 to 50 out of every 100 adults have it, and it gets more common with age 1.

Your eyes are coated by a thin layer of tears called the tear film. It has water, oil, and mucus. The water keeps the eye wet, the oil keeps tears from drying up too fast, and the mucus helps tears stick to the eye. Dry eye starts when one or more of these layers does not work right 2.

Most dry eye is mild and can be managed with simple steps — artificial tears, warm compresses, fewer hours staring at screens. Some people need prescription drops, in-office treatments, or small plugs in the tear ducts 3.

Symptoms & Warning Signs

The most common symptoms of dry eye are:

  • Burning, stinging, or a gritty feeling — like sand in the eye
  • Watery eyes — the eye makes reflex tears to fight the dryness
  • Blurry vision that clears when you blink
  • Tired eyes — especially after reading, driving, or using screens
  • Trouble wearing contact lenses
  • Red eyes — usually mild
  • Light sensitivity

Dry eye is not the same as an eye infection or an eye injury. Go to the emergency room or an urgent eye care clinic if you have sudden vision loss, severe pain, a red eye with light sensitivity, or a chemical splash or injury 4.

What Causes Dry Eye

Dry eye has two main types 2:

  • Not enough tears (aqueous-deficient). The tear glands do not make enough watery tears.
  • Tears dry up too fast (evaporative). The oil glands in the eyelids (meibomian glands) are blocked, so the oil layer is thin and tears evaporate quickly. This is the most common type.

Many things can make dry eye worse:

  • Age — tear production drops with age.
  • Female hormones — especially after menopause.
  • Long screen time — you blink less when you stare at a screen.
  • Contact lenses — long-term wear can damage the tear film.
  • Medicines — antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure pills, hormone therapy, and acne drugs.
  • Autoimmune diseases — Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and thyroid disease.
  • Past eye surgery — LASIK and other laser surgery can cause dry eye for months.
  • Dry, windy, or smoky air — including heaters, air conditioning, and airplanes.

Treatment

Most dry eye is treated step by step, starting with the easiest and cheapest options 3:

  • Artificial tears — over-the-counter drops used as needed. If you use them more than four times a day, choose a preservative-free brand.
  • Warm compresses and lid scrubs — soften the oil in the meibomian glands so tears do not dry up so fast.
  • Screen breaks — every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds and blink several times.
  • Omega-3 fats — fish or flaxseed in the diet may help; pills have mixed results in studies.
  • Prescription drops — cyclosporine (Restasis, Cequa), lifitegrast (Xiidra), perfluorohexyloctane (Miebo), and others lower inflammation on the eye surface.
  • Punctal plugs — tiny plugs that keep tears from draining out of the eye.
  • In-office treatments — heat and pressure treatments (LipiFlow, iLux) or light treatments (IPL) for blocked oil glands.
  • Amniotic membrane or autologous serum drops — for severe dry eye that does not respond to other treatments.
What does not work: Rinsing your eyes with tap water, contact lens rewetting drops used like artificial tears, or "red-eye relief" drops with vasoconstrictors. These can make dry eye worse.

Common Questions About Dry Eye

Most dry eye cannot be fully cured, but it can be well controlled. The right mix of drops, warm compresses, and screen habits keeps most people comfortable. Dry eye from a single trigger — like a medicine or LASIK — often gets better when the trigger goes away 3.

Next Steps

  1. 1Start with preservative-free artificial tears 2-4 times a day if your eyes feel dry, gritty, or tired.
  2. 2Use a warm compress on closed eyelids for 5-10 minutes once a day.
  3. 3Follow the 20-20-20 rule when working on a screen.
  4. 4Tell your eye doctor about all your medicines and any autoimmune conditions.
  5. 5Book an eye exam if symptoms last more than 4 weeks despite home care.
  6. 6Go to the emergency room if you have sudden vision loss, severe pain, a red eye with light sensitivity, or a chemical or injury.

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