Dry Eye
Dry eye happens when your tears don't keep the surface of the eye healthy, either because you make too few tears or because they evaporate too quickly.
Symptoms
- Burning, stinging or a gritty feeling
- Redness
- Blurry vision that clears when you blink
- Watery eyes, as the eye overreacts to dryness
- Trouble wearing contact lenses
- Tired eyes when reading or using screens
Common causes
- Age, especially after menopause
- Blocked oil glands in the eyelids (meibomian gland dysfunction)
- Screen use, which makes you blink less
- Medications such as antihistamines, some blood pressure medicines and antidepressants
- Conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease
- Past eye surgery, including LASIK
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause, and most people do best with a combination:
- Preservative-free artificial tears
- Warm compresses and eyelid cleaning
- Prescription anti-inflammatory eye drops
- Punctal plugs, tiny inserts that keep tears on the eye longer
- Treatment for eyelid inflammation (blepharitis)
Dry eye is usually a long-term condition. The goal is lasting comfort and clear vision, and we adjust treatment at follow-up visits.
Dry eye and cataract surgery
Dry eye can throw off the measurements used to choose your lens implant. If you're planning cataract surgery, we treat dry eye first so the measurements are as accurate as possible.
Common questions
Why are my eyes watery if they're dry?
When the surface of the eye gets irritated, it can flood with reflex tears. These tears are mostly water and don't coat the eye well, so the dryness comes back.
Which artificial tears should I use?
If you use drops more than four times a day, choose preservative-free drops. Avoid "get the red out" drops, which can make redness worse over time.
Ready to schedule a visit?
Call or text (714) 312-1200. We'll find a time that works for you.