This content is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult a physician for diagnosis and treatment.

Dry eye happens when your eyes do not make enough tears, or when your tears dry up too fast. It becomes more common as you get older, and it can leave your eyes feeling gritty, scratchy, or burning. Many people also notice dry eyes and blurry vision that comes and goes. The good news is that dry eyes can be managed. There are many ways to find relief, from simple eye drops to small procedures like punctal plugs.

If your daily medications might be part of the problem, a doctor can review them with you. You do not have to sit in a waiting room to get that help. With Doctor2me, you can choose your own doctor and have them visit your home the same day, which saves you a trip and lowers the risk of catching an infection.

Soft, diffused natural window light from the left illuminates a close-up, slightly low-angle composition. The subject, an older woman, is sharply in focus in the center foreground, tilting her head back while gently pulling down her lower eyelid. A shallow depth of field softly blurs the warm-toned, neutral bathroom setting in the background. She is holding a small, clear plastic dropper bottle over her eye, which features a label with the legible text "DRY EYE RELIEF" and "10ml".

What Dry Eye Is and Why It Gets Worse With Age

How Tears Are Supposed to Work

Healthy tears are made of three layers: an oily layer, a watery layer, and a mucus layer. Each blink spreads this film across the surface of your eye to keep it smooth, clear, and moist. As the American Academy of Ophthalmology explains, the oily layer keeps tears from drying up too fast, the watery layer washes away particles, and the mucus layer helps the tears stick to the eye. When any layer is off balance, dry eyes can set in.

Why Age Raises Your Risk

Tear production tends to drop as you age, so dry eye is more common after 50. Hormone changes play a role too, which is why women, especially after menopause, are more likely to have it. If you find yourself thinking my eyes are dry more often than they used to be, age-related changes in your tear glands are a likely reason. This is a normal part of aging, not a sign that something is seriously wrong.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

The Gritty, Sandy Feeling

The classic sign of a dry eye is the feeling that something is stuck in your eye that will not come out. People often describe gritty eyes, or a scratchy, sandy sensation. Other common symptoms include burning or stinging, redness, sensitivity to light, and stringy mucus in or around the eyes. Symptoms usually affect both eyes at once.

When Watery Eyes Mean Dry Eyes

It may sound strange, but watery eyes can be a symptom of dry eyes. When the oily layer of your tears is low, the watery layer evaporates too quickly. Your eyes react by making extra tears that run down your cheeks, but this does not fix the real problem. Blurry vision that clears when you blink is another clue, since a poor tear film keeps the surface of your eye from staying smooth.

What Causes Dry Eye

Medications That Cause Dry Eyes

Everyday medicines are a frequent and often overlooked cause. Common medications that cause dry eyes include antihistamines for allergies, some blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, sleeping pills, and heartburn medicine. If you started a new drug around the time your symptoms began, tell your doctor. Sometimes a small change in your prescriptions can ease the dryness, but you should never stop taking medicine on your own.

Health Conditions and Surgery

Certain health problems raise your risk, including rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroid disease, and lupus. Eyelid problems like blepharitis can also throw off your tear film. Long-term use of contact lenses and past eye surgery matter too. Many people ask about laser eye surgery for dry eyes, but procedures like LASIK are more often a cause of temporary dry eye than a cure, so it is important to know the difference. Cataract surgery can have a similar short-term effect.

How Dry Eye Is Diagnosed

There is no single test for dry eye, so an eye doctor uses a few tools together. According to Cleveland Clinic, these often include a slit lamp exam to look closely at the eye and eyelids, a Schirmer’s test that measures how many tears you make, and a tear breakup time test that checks how fast your tears evaporate. A full eye exam also helps rule out other problems. For people in the Westlake area, optometrist Viktoria Goldenberg offers comprehensive eye exams and contact lens fittings, including in-home and assisted-living eye care for those who find it hard to travel to an office.

Treatment Options for Dry Eye

Over-the-Counter Eye Drops

For mild dry eyes, the first step is usually artificial tears, the main over the counter for dry eyes option. These drops work like your own tears to add moisture. There are many brands, so it can take a little trial and error to find the one that feels best. If you use eye drops for dry eyes more than a few times a day, choose a preservative-free type, since preservatives can start to irritate your eyes. Thicker gels or ointments at bedtime can help if you wake up with dryness.

Prescription Drugs for Dry Eyes

If your dry eye is more serious, an eye doctor may suggest prescription drugs for dry eyes. These are medicated eye drops, such as cyclosporine or lifitegrast, that help your eyes make more of their own tears and calm inflammation. Another medicine can stimulate tear production. These treatments usually take some weeks to work, so patience is part of the plan.

Punctal Plugs and Other Procedures

If your tears drain away too fast, your doctor may recommend punctal plugs for dry eyes. These tiny silicone or gel plugs gently block the small drainage openings in your eyelids, so your natural tears stay on the eye longer. They can be removed later if needed. In some cases, minor surgery can fix loose or misaligned eyelids that let tears drain out too quickly.

Special Contact Lenses

For some people, special contact lenses for dry eyes can protect the surface of the eye while also correcting vision. Scleral lenses, for example, rest on the white part of the eye and hold a layer of moisture against the cornea. These lenses need to be fitted by a trained eye doctor, so a proper exam and fitting come first.

Simple Habits That Help at Home

Small changes to your day can make dry eye easier to live with. Try to keep dry air, wind, and smoke away from your eyes, and point car vents and fans elsewhere. A humidifier adds moisture to dry indoor air, which helps in winter. Take regular breaks when you read or use a screen, and remember to blink often, since we blink less when we concentrate. Wraparound sunglasses block wind outdoors, and a warm compress over your eyes each evening can ease clogged eyelid glands. Staying hydrated and getting enough sleep supports your eyes too.

When to See a Doctor

Mild dry eyes can often be handled at home, but some signs mean it is time for a professional. See an eye doctor if your symptoms are constant or getting worse, if over-the-counter drops are not helping, or if you have real pain, heavy redness, or changes in your vision. Left untreated, severe dry eye can damage the surface of the eye, so it is worth taking seriously. If travel is hard, remember that care can come to you, so there is no reason to put up with sore, gritty eyes day after day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you fix dry eyes?

Most mild dry eyes are managed, not cured. Start with over-the-counter artificial tears and simple habits like using a humidifier and taking screen breaks. If that is not enough, an eye doctor can offer prescription drops, punctal plugs, or other treatments based on the cause.

What causes dry eyes all of a sudden?

A sudden bout of dry eye is often tied to a change, such as a new medicine, dry or windy weather, long screen time, or getting over an illness. Hormone shifts and age can play a role too. If it does not settle down, have an eye doctor check for a cause.

What is the best solution for dry eyes?

There is no single best fix, because the right treatment depends on the cause. Artificial tears help most mild cases, while more serious dry eyes may need prescription drops, punctal plugs, or special lenses. An eye exam is the best way to find what will work for you.

Is dry eye painful?

Dry eyes are usually more uncomfortable than truly painful. It often feels gritty, scratchy, or burning, like something is in your eye. But severe or untreated dry eyes can cause real pain and even damage the eye’s surface, so lasting pain is a reason to see a doctor.

What are the best eye drops for dry, gritty eyes?

Artificial tears are the usual first choice for gritty, dry eyes. If you use drops often, preservative-free versions are gentler on the eyes. Since brands vary, you may need to try a few, and an eye doctor can point you toward the right type for your case.

Do I need eye drops after LASIK?

Dry eye is common for a while after LASIK, so eye doctors often recommend artificial tears during the healing period. For most people this dryness is temporary. If it lasts or feels severe, follow up with your surgeon or eye doctor for further care.

Gritty, Burning Eyes as You Age: Coping With Dry Eye