Quick answer
What is dry eyes?
Dry eyes happen when your eyes do not make enough tears, or the tears dry too quickly. They feel gritty, itchy, sore or watery, and are very common — especially with age, screen use and dry environments. Lubricating eye drops and simple habits usually bring relief.
What are dry eyes?
Dry eyes happen when the eyes do not produce enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly to keep the surface comfortable. It is a very common problem — particularly with age, heavy screen use and modern indoor environments — and it usually responds well to simple treatment.
Symptoms
Dry eyes can feel:
- gritty, like something is in the eye
- itchy, sore or burning
- temporarily blurry
- and, paradoxically, watery — irritation triggers reflex tears that don’t lubricate well
Common causes
Age is the biggest factor, as tear production naturally falls. Other contributors include long screen sessions (we blink far less), contact lenses, wind and dry air, air conditioning and central heating, some medicines, and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).
Treatment and self-care
The mainstay is lubricating eye drops (artificial tears), used regularly rather than only when symptoms flare; gels and ointments give longer-lasting relief overnight. A pharmacist can recommend options, including preservative-free drops for frequent use.
Alongside drops: take regular screen breaks and blink deliberately, position screens a little below eye level, humidify dry rooms, shield eyes from wind, rest from contact lenses, and keep eyelids clean if blepharitis is part of the picture.
When to get checked
See a GP or optician if symptoms persist despite a few weeks of treatment, or if you have pain, light sensitivity, marked redness or vision changes. Sudden eye pain or sudden change in vision needs urgent attention — those are never just dryness.
Common questions
- Why do my dry eyes water so much?
- It sounds contradictory, but dryness irritates the eye, which then produces a flood of poor-quality reflex tears that don't lubricate well. Watery eyes are a common sign of dry eye.
- What causes dry eyes?
- Common causes include getting older, long screen use (we blink less), contact lenses, dry or windy environments, air conditioning and heating, some medicines, and eyelid inflammation (blepharitis).
- What is the best treatment for dry eyes?
- Lubricating eye drops ("artificial tears") used regularly — not just when sore — plus gels or ointments at night for more persistent dryness. A pharmacist can recommend suitable ones, including preservative-free options for frequent use.
- How can I prevent dry eyes?
- Take regular screen breaks and consciously blink, position screens slightly below eye level, use a humidifier in dry rooms, protect eyes from wind, have regular breaks from contact lenses, and clean eyelids if you have blepharitis.