Dry Eyes: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention

A hot day, a chilly gust of wind, or even hours staring at a screen. Sometimes, the smallest things leave your eyes feeling sore, gritty, and tired. Dry eyes are not just a passing irritation. They slowly chip away at daily comfort and clarity of vision. If you’ve ever blinked and felt like your eyelids were scraping sandpaper, you’re not alone. 

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eyes happen when your eyes can’t produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. Tears are more than just salty water; they form a delicate film that keeps your eyes moist, clear, and protected. Without a stable tear film, everything from blinking to focusing on a page can start to feel like hard work.

This condition, often referred to as dry eye syndrome, affects both the eye’s surface and its protective mechanisms. Environmental triggers, medical conditions, and lifestyle habits can all play a role. You might experience redness, stinging, blurred vision, or even a strange feeling like something’s constantly stuck in your eye.

While mild cases cause occasional discomfort, chronic dry eyes can lead to inflammation and long-term surface damage if left unattended.

How Common is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eyes are surprisingly widespread, affecting millions across India and the world. With rising screen time, air-conditioned environments, and hectic urban lifestyles, more people are noticing dry eye symptoms creeping into their daily lives. A clinic-based study conducted in South India estimated that up to 32% of adults in urban areas may experience some form of dry eye syndrome. However, broader population-level data across India are still evolving.

The risk tends to rise with age, especially after 50. Women, particularly after menopause, are also more likely to report discomfort linked to dry eyes. 

Common Causes of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can spring from many sources, and often, more than one factor plays a part. 

• Ageing is a big culprit, as tear production naturally declines over time. 
• Hormonal shifts, especially in women, can also disrupt the balance of moisture.
• Environmental triggers like dust, pollution, and dry air make matters worse. 
• Digital eye strain from long hours on screens is another growing cause. 
• Medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, blepharitis, and thyroid disorders are frequently linked to dry eyes causes as well, making early detection crucial.

Dry Eye Symptoms: How to Identify the Condition?

Dry eyes often speak through subtle yet persistent signs. You might feel a burning or stinging sensation, like tiny grains of sand trapped beneath your eyelids. Some people notice blurred vision that sharpens only after blinking. Redness, sensitivity to light, and difficulty wearing contact lenses can also point towards trouble.

In many cases, dry eye syndrome symptoms worsen by evening, especially after prolonged reading or screen exposure. Watery eyes may seem surprising, but they occur when the eyes produce excessive watery tears in response to irritation caused by dryness.

Types of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes do not follow a single pattern. Depending on the root cause, they are broadly classified into three types: aqueous deficient, evaporative, and mixed dry eye.

Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye

When your eyes fail to produce enough of the watery part of tears, it leads to aqueous-deficient dry eye. This shortage leaves the surface exposed, dry, and vulnerable to damage. It is often linked to autoimmune diseases like ‘Sjögren’s syndrome’, where the immune system attacks the tear and saliva glands, or side effects of certain medications.

Those with aqueous deficiency may experience pronounced dry eye symptoms early in the day. Left unchecked, this form of dry eyes can cause surface inflammation. 

Evaporative Dry Eye

In evaporative dry eye, the problem isn’t a lack of tears, but rather that they vanish too quickly. The oily layer of the tear film, meant to slow evaporation, becomes weak or patchy. Blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and even living in a dusty environment can speed up tear loss.

You might notice your vision getting blurry, especially in windy or air-conditioned settings. For many people, this type of dry eyes feels like a battle against invisible dryness. In this situation, relief seems fleeting even after using dry eye drops.

Mixed Dry Eye

Mixed dry eye is exactly what it sounds like: a combination of both aqueous deficiency and evaporative issues. Here, the eyes struggle to produce enough tears, and the ones that are made tend to vanish quickly. This double blow often leads to stubborn symptoms that don’t fully respond to simple remedies.

Patients with mixed dry eyes frequently report a mix of burning, scratchy sensations, and intermittent blurry vision. Managing this type usually needs a layered approach, targeting both tear production and protection to break the cycle of discomfort.

Dry Eye Treatment Options

Treating dry eyes starts with addressing the underlying cause. 

1. Mild cases often improve with lifestyle tweaks like reducing screen time or using a humidifier at home. 
2. For those with persistent discomfort, artificial tears, warm compresses, and prescription medicines can offer real relief.
3. In some cases, dry eye treatment may involve procedures such as punctal plugs to slow tear drainage or intense pulsed light therapy for meibomian gland issues. 

Best Eye Drops for Dry Eyes

Selecting the right eye drops for dry eyes can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options lining pharmacy shelves. Some are designed to add moisture, while others target inflammation or promote healing. For many, preservative-free formulas tend to offer the gentlest relief without irritation.

The best eye drops for dry eyes often mimic natural tears, helping restore comfort and clarity without masking symptoms. If dryness persists despite regular use, your ophthalmologist at Nethradhama might recommend specialised dry eye drops suited to your condition for deeper, longer-lasting protection.

How to Prevent Dry Eyes?

Preventing dry eyes often means making small adjustments that protect the natural moisture in your eyes. 

• Simple habits such as blinking more during screen time and taking regular breaks can make a big difference. 
• Using a humidifier during dry seasons also helps keep your surroundings friendly to your eyes.
• If you wonder how to avoid dry eyes when stepping outdoors, wearing wraparound glasses can shield against wind and dust. 
• Practising good eyelid hygiene is another quiet hero in the fight against dryness. 

When to See a Doctor?

Sometimes, dry eyes move beyond mild irritation and begin to interfere with daily life. If you notice persistent redness, sharp pain, vision changes, or feel like something is always stuck in your eye, it’s time to seek help. No one should have to put up with constant discomfort.

Conditions like blepharitis, uveitis, or complications after cataract surgery or LASIK can make dry eye symptoms worse. In rare cases, untreated dry eyes may even harm the cornea, potentially leading to abrasions or infection. Early diagnosis and dry eye syndrome treatment can bring lasting comfort and protect long-term eye health.