Dry eye: why it happens and when to get it checked
That gritty, burning or heavy feeling in the eyes is one of the most common complaints, and one of the easiest to ignore for months.
What it is
The eye needs a stable tear film to be comfortable and to see sharply. When that film evaporates too quickly, or is not produced properly, the surface of the eye is left exposed. Hence the burning and discomfort.
One confusing detail: dry eye sometimes waters. Those are reflex tears, a response to irritation, and they do not solve the underlying problem.
What tends to contribute
- Long hours of screen time, because you blink less.
- Dry air: heating in winter, air conditioning, wind.
- Contact lenses worn many hours a day.
- Some common medications, such as antihistamines.
- Hormonal changes and age.
- Not sleeping enough.
What you can try
Blinking on purpose while you work, taking breaks from the screen, keeping the air less dry in the room where you spend most hours, and giving your contact lenses a rest. For many people with mild discomfort, that already makes a difference.
When to get it checked
- The discomfort lasts weeks or keeps coming back.
- Your eyes are routinely red.
- Something feels like it is bothering you all the time.
- Vision blurs intermittently and clears when you blink.
- You wear contacts and no longer tolerate them the way you used to.
It is worth having looked at for a practical reason: "dry eye" describes a symptom, not a single cause. There are several different reasons behind it, and what helps in one case does not help in another. An evaluation tells you which is yours.
If this has been bothering you for a while, book a visit and we will take a look.