Dry eyes happen when your eyes do not make enough tears, or when the tears you make dry up too fast. Long hours on screens, getting older, contact lenses and blocked oil glands in the eyelids are some of the most common causes. For most people, dry eye treatment starts at home with preservative-free artificial tears, warm compresses and a few habit changes, and prescription drops can help when that is not enough.

What does dry eye feel like?

Dry eye is common and usually not serious, but it can be uncomfortable. Typical symptoms include:

• Eyes that feel gritty, scratchy or as if something is stuck in them
• Burning, itching, soreness or redness
• Blurry vision that clears when you blink
• Sensitivity to light
• Watery eyes

Watery eyes surprise many people, but dryness makes the eye uncomfortable, and that can trigger a rush of extra tears that does not fix the problem.

What causes dry eyes?

Tears have a watery layer, a thin mucus layer and an oily top layer that slows evaporation. A problem with any of them can lead to dry eye. The NHS lists several things that make it more likely:

• Being over 50
• Wearing contact lenses
• Looking at screens for long stretches without a break
• Air conditioning, indoor heating, wind, dust or smoke
• Smoking or drinking alcohol
• Some medicines, such as certain antidepressants and blood pressure medicines
• Conditions such as blepharitis (inflamed eyelids), Sjögren’s syndrome and lupus

Some cold and allergy medicines can also play a part, as can isotretinoin for acne and previous eye surgery. If seasonal allergies play a part, our guide to nasal sprays for allergies covers one common way to manage hay fever.

Eye drops used every day for other conditions can irritate the eye surface over time, often because of their preservative. If you use glaucoma eye drops, do not stop them, since they protect your sight; ask your eye doctor whether a preservative-free version could help. Bimatoprost eyelash treatments such as Latisse also list dry eye symptoms among their most frequent side effects, as our Careprost vs Latisse comparison explains. Never stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice.

Why do dry eyes get worse with age?

Dry eye becomes more common after 50. Hormone changes can lower tear production, and menopause is one of the known risk factors. The eyelid oil glands also tend to work less well with age, so tears evaporate faster. Age-related dry eye usually needs ongoing care rather than a one-time fix.

Can screen time cause dry eyes?

Yes. When you concentrate on a phone or computer, you blink much less often. Each blink spreads fresh tears and squeezes a little oil from the glands along your eyelids. A 2023 review of eyelid gland problems explains that blinking less during computer use means these glands are emptied less often, which can help clog them. Simple habits help:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Take short breaks to blink fully a few times.
• Set your screen just below eye level.
• Keep fans, heaters and car vents from blowing on your face, and try a humidifier in dry rooms.

Do contact lenses cause dry eyes?

They can. A lens sits right in the tear film, and wearing lenses is a well-known risk factor for dry eye. These steps often help:

• Switch to glasses when your eyes feel dry, and plan some lens-free days.
• Do not sleep in lenses unless your eye doctor says they are made for overnight wear.
• Use only drops labeled as safe with contact lenses, or remove your lenses first.
• Ask your eye doctor whether a different lens type or cleaning solution might suit you better.

A red, painful eye in a contact lens wearer can be a sign of infection. Take the lenses out and get checked the same day.

What is meibomian gland dysfunction?

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a very common cause of dry eye. Tiny meibomian glands in your eyelids release oil onto the tear film each time you blink. In MGD, the glands get blocked or the oil turns thick, so tears evaporate too quickly. MGD often goes hand in hand with blepharitis and rosacea. Signs include red or crusty eyelid edges, burning and blurry vision that clears when you blink.

How to do a warm compress

Warmth softens the thickened oil so it can flow again, and eye specialists use warm compresses, lid cleaning and gentle massage as the first treatment for MGD:

1. Wash your hands. Soak a clean washcloth in warm, not hot, water and wring it out.
2. Hold it over your closed eyelids for about 5 to 10 minutes, rewarming it when it cools.
3. Gently massage your eyelids for about 30 seconds, pressing toward the lashes.
4. Wipe along the lash line with a clean cotton pad dampened with warm water.
5. Repeat twice a day, and keep going even after your eyes feel better, because MGD is usually a long-term condition.

Which artificial tears should you use for dry eye?

Lubricating eye drops, often called artificial tears, are the first step for most people. MedlinePlus advises using them at least 2 to 4 times a day and changing your approach if they have not helped after a couple of weeks. When choosing:

• Preservative-free drops come in single-use vials or special bottles. Some people react to the preservatives in standard drops, so preservative-free versions are the better choice if you use drops often, wear contacts or have sensitive eyes. MedlinePlus notes they can be used as often as every 2 hours.
• Gels and ointments last longer but blur your vision for a while, so they suit bedtime, especially if your eyes stay slightly open while you sleep.
• Redness-relief drops are not artificial tears. They narrow blood vessels to whiten the eye, are meant only for short-term relief of minor redness, and overuse can make redness worse.

Do not let the dropper tip touch your eye or fingers, and throw away single-use vials after each use.

What prescription treatments help dry eye?

If home care is not enough, an eye doctor can check your tear production and tear film, then suggest a next step:

• Cyclosporine eye drops (Restasis and others) help increase tear production when inflammation is holding it back. The US label for Restasis gives one drop in each eye twice a day, about 12 hours apart. Burning was the most common side effect, in 17% of people in studies. Remove contact lenses first and wait 15 minutes before putting them back in, and leave 15 minutes between cyclosporine and artificial tears.
• Lifitegrast (Xiidra) is another twice-daily prescription drop for dry eye disease. An odd taste after using it is a common side effect.
• Steroid eye drops may be used briefly to calm a flare. Courses are kept short because long-term use can raise eye pressure and cause cataracts.
• Oral antibiotics such as doxycycline, or azithromycin for people who cannot take it, may be prescribed for stubborn MGD, especially with rosacea, to reduce bacteria and inflammation along the eyelid edge.
• Punctal plugs are tiny plugs placed in the tear drainage ducts so your tears stay on the eye longer.
• In-office treatments such as thermal pulsation or intense pulsed light may help MGD that does not improve with warm compresses.

These options need an eye exam first, because the right choice depends on the cause. You can browse the prescription eye medicines we carry in our Eye Care section.

When to see an eye doctor

See an optometrist or ophthalmologist if symptoms last more than a few weeks despite home care, keep coming back, or affect reading, driving or work. Contact a doctor the same day if you have:

• A red, painful eye, especially if you wear contact lenses
• Discharge, flaking or a sore on the eye or eyelid
• A bulging eye or an eyelid that starts to droop or change shape
• Dry eyes with a dry mouth and joint pain or swelling, which can point to Sjögren’s syndrome

Go to the emergency room for any sudden change in vision (such as wavy lines, flashes or vision loss), pain when looking at light, a red eye with a severe headache and nausea, an eye injury, or something stuck in your eye.

Frequently asked questions

Can dry eyes go away on their own?

Mild dryness from a dry room or a long screen session often settles once you rest your eyes and remove the trigger. Dry eye linked to age, MGD or a medical condition usually needs ongoing care.

How often can I use artificial tears?

Follow the package directions. Many people use preserved drops 2 to 4 times a day; if you need them more often, switch to preservative-free drops.

Can I use eye drops while wearing contact lenses?

Only drops labeled as safe for contact lenses. For other drops, take your lenses out first and follow the label on when to put them back in.

Do warm compresses really help dry eyes?

They help most when blocked eyelid oil glands are part of the cause, and they work well when done every day with gentle lid massage.

This article gives general information only and is not medical advice. Prescription eye medicines should be used under a doctor’s care, so talk to your eye doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any eye drop.