Dry Eye, Explained: Why Your Eyes Might Be Crying for the Wrong Reasons

2026 01 September

Do your eyes often feel dry, gritty or irritated? Perhaps they water excessively, tire throughout the day, or your vision seems to come and go when reading or using a computer. If any of this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing dry eye disease.

Dry eye is one of the most common conditions we see in optometry. It can be frustrating to live with, but the good news is that once the underlying cause is identified, there are plenty of effective ways to manage it.

What is Dry Eye?

Your tears do far more than simply keep your eyes wet. They provide a smooth optical surface for clear vision, nourish the front of the eye, and help protect it against infection.

Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or, more commonly, when the tears you do produce evaporate too quickly. This usually comes down to the oily layer of the tear film not working as well as it should, allowing tears to evaporate before they can properly protect the surface of the eye.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?

Symptoms vary from person to person, but commonly include:

• Dryness or discomfort
• A gritty, sandy, or burning sensation
• Watery eyes
• Redness
• Blurred or fluctuating vision
• Tired or heavy eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses

Many people are surprised to learn that watery eyes can actually be a sign of dry eye. When the surface of the eye becomes dry and irritated, it triggers a reflex production of tears. But these reflex tears lack the right balance of oils, so they evaporate quickly and don’t provide any lasting relief.

What Causes Dry Eye?

There is rarely a single cause of dry eye. More often, it develops from a combination of factors, including:

• Ageing
• Hormonal changes
• Prolonged screen use and reduced blinking
• Meibomian gland dysfunction (blocked oil glands in the eyelids)
• Certain medications
• Contact lens wear
• Environmental factors such as air conditioning, heating, or wind
• Some medical conditions

Because these causes differ from person to person, treatment works best when it’s tailored to your individual circumstances, rather than applied as a blanket approach.

How Can Dry Eye Be Treated?

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for dry eye. Depending on the underlying cause, management might include lubricating eye drops, warm compresses, eyelid hygiene, dietary advice, changes to your work or home environment, or treatment aimed at improving the function of the oil glands in your eyelids.

Our optometrists assess your tear film, eyelids, and the surface of your eyes to pinpoint exactly what’s driving your symptoms. This means we can recommend a treatment plan built around the cause to manage the dry eye, not just something that masks the discomfort.

Don’t Put Up With Uncomfortable Eyes

Dry eye isn’t something you simply have to live with. Left untreated, it can gradually affect your comfort, your vision, and your quality of life.

If your eyes often feel dry, irritated, watery, or tired, book an appointment with one of our optometrists. A comprehensive dry eye assessment is the first step toward understanding what’s really going on, and finding lasting relief.