Dry eye

Overview

Tears are not just water. A thin film of tears covers the front of the eye to keep it moist, smooth and protected. In dry eye, this tear film does not work properly. Either the eyes make too few tears, or the tears evaporate (dry off) too quickly, often because the tiny oil glands along the edge of the eyelids are blocked or inflamed. Doctors call the condition keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye syndrome.

Dry eye is very common and becomes more common with age. Women are affected more often than men, especially after the menopause. Long hours of reading or screen work, dry or windy weather, air conditioning, contact lenses and some medicines can all bring it on or make it worse. Oddly, dry eyes can water a lot, because the eye makes extra reflex tears that do not soothe it.

For most people dry eye is uncomfortable but does not harm their sight. There is usually no cure, but it can be controlled. Most people manage well with changes to their surroundings and habits plus artificial tears (lubricating eye drops, gels or ointments) from a pharmacy. People with severe dry eye may need an eye specialist and prescription treatment.

Symptoms

• Eyes that feel dry, gritty, scratchy or sore, as if something is in them
• Burning or itching of the eyes
• Red eyes
• Watering eyes, especially in wind
• Blurred vision that clears when you blink
• Tired eyes and discomfort after reading, watching TV or using a screen
• Sensitivity to light
• Stringy mucus in the eyes, often on waking
• Symptoms that get worse as the day goes on

Causes and risk factors

Causes

• The eyes making fewer tears, for example with ageing or hormone changes after the menopause
• Tears drying off too fast because the oil glands in the eyelids are blocked or inflamed (meibomian gland problems or blepharitis)
• Blinking less than normal during screen use, reading or close work
• Eyelids that do not close fully, for example after Bell's palsy or stroke, or with thyroid eye disease
• Side effects of some medicines, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, beta-blockers, water tablets (diuretics) and some contraceptive pills
• Conditions that affect the glands or the eye surface, such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, and past eye surgery or burns to the eye

What makes it more likely

• Older age
• Being a woman, especially after the menopause
• Long hours of computer or phone use, reading or TV
• Dry, windy, dusty or sunny weather, heating and air conditioning
• Wearing contact lenses or having had laser eye surgery
• Smoking or being around smoke
• Using eye drops for other eye conditions
• Having an autoimmune condition such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus

Complications

Most people with dry eye never lose any sight. But if dry eye is severe or left untreated, constant irritation and inflammation can damage the clear front window of the eye (the cornea). This raises the risk of infection, ulcers (open sores) and thinning of the cornea, which can lead to lasting damage to vision. Inflammation of the cornea in dry eye is called keratitis. Dry eye can also affect daily life: discomfort, watering and blurred vision can make reading and screen work harder and can lower mood. Severe dry eye is sometimes linked to Sjögren's syndrome, which needs regular care from an eye specialist.

Are you a PMDC-registered doctor who treats Dry eye? List your profile free.

Diagnosis

Dry eye can often be recognised from the symptoms alone. A pharmacist, optometrist (eye-test specialist) or doctor will ask how your eyes feel, when it is worse, what work you do, whether you wear contact lenses, which medicines you take and whether you have conditions such as arthritis or a dry mouth.

An optometrist or eye doctor may then examine the eye with a slit lamp (a microscope with a bright light) to look at the eye surface and eyelids. Coloured dye drops show any dry or damaged patches on the surface of the eye and how quickly the tear film breaks up after a blink. A Schirmer test, where a small strip of paper is placed inside the lower eyelid for a short time, measures how many tears you make. Some clinics also test how concentrated the tears are (tear osmolarity). If an underlying condition such as Sjögren's syndrome is possible, your doctor may check for it.

Treatment

1. Change your surroundings and habits first: take regular screen breaks, blink often, keep the air moist, avoid smoke, wind and direct air from fans or heaters, and stop smoking
2. Use artificial tears (lubricating eye drops or gels) from a pharmacy. Ask for them by ingredient rather than brand, and give each product a fair trial; you may need to try more than one before you find what suits you
3. Choose preservative-free drops if you need them often or if preserved drops sting, because preservatives can irritate the eye
4. Use a lubricating eye ointment at bedtime if your eyes are dry at night or on waking; it blurs vision, so it is best kept for night-time
5. If the eyelids are part of the problem, clean them daily and use warm compresses with gentle lid massage. Your doctor may sometimes prescribe antibiotic tablets or ointment
6. Ask your doctor to review any medicines that may be drying your eyes, but do not stop a medicine on your own
7. If symptoms stay troublesome or the eye surface is damaged, an eye specialist may offer anti-inflammatory eye drops such as ciclosporin, or small plugs in the tear ducts (punctal plugs) to keep tears on the eye for longer

Medicines in Pakistan

Medicines a doctor may use, by group. Read the role: some are only for special cases. Each link opens our page for that medicine, with every brand and its official DRAP price. Your doctor decides which medicine and dose are right for you.

Also used (not yet in our price list): Hypromellose eye drops, Carbomer eye gel, Carmellose eye drops, Sodium hyaluronate eye drops, Hydroxypropyl guar eye drops, Paraffin-based eye ointment (for night-time), Ciclosporin eye drops (specialist), Lifitegrast eye drops (specialist), Corticosteroid eye drops (specialist), Autologous serum eye drops, made from the patient's own blood (specialist centres)

Self-care and prevention

Self-care

• Take regular breaks from screens and reading, close your eyes for a few seconds now and then, and remember to blink
• Place your computer screen at or slightly below eye level
• Keep the air moist with a humidifier or a bowl of water, and limit time in air conditioning and near heaters or fans
• Protect your eyes from wind, dust and strong sun, for example with glasses or goggles
• Keep your eyelids clean with cooled boiled water or eyelid wipes, and use warm compresses if your eyelids are affected
• Stop smoking and avoid smoky places
• Limit contact lens wear and eye make-up if they make your eyes worse, and ask your optometrist about other lens types
• Drink plenty of water and do not rub your eyes

Prevention

• Follow screen habits: take breaks, blink often and keep the screen at or below eye level
• Avoid dry, smoky, windy and dusty places where you can, and use a humidifier indoors
• Do not smoke
• Keep eyelids clean if you are prone to blepharitis
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether any of your medicines can dry the eyes

Common questions

Why do my eyes water if they are dry?

When the eye surface is dry and irritated, the eye can make extra reflex tears, the kind you make when you cut an onion or cry. These tears run off quickly and do not soothe a dry eye, so the eye can feel dry and water at the same time. Treating the dryness often helps.

Which artificial tears are best?

Research has not shown that one type works clearly better than the others; most seem to work about as well and are generally safe. Many people need to try a few to find one that is comfortable. Preservative-free drops are gentler if you use drops often, because the preservative benzalkonium chloride can irritate the eye.

Can using a mobile phone or computer cause dry eye?

Yes, it can make dry eye worse. People blink less while looking at a screen, so tears dry off faster. Regular breaks, blinking often and keeping the screen at or below eye level help.

Will dry eye damage my eyesight?

Most people with dry eye do not lose any sight. In severe or untreated cases, the surface of the eye can become inflamed, infected or ulcerated, which can affect vision. See a doctor quickly if your eye becomes painful, very red or your vision gets worse.

Do fish oil supplements help dry eye?

Fish oil and similar fatty acid supplements might help some people when added to usual treatment, but the evidence is uncertain and mixed. They are generally low risk in moderate amounts. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement.

Sources

1. NICE. Ciclosporin for treating dry eye disease that has not improved despite treatment with artificial tears (TA369) (2015).
2. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Pucker, Ng, Nichols). Over the counter (OTC) artificial tear drops for dry eye syndrome (2016).
3. Cochrane Eyes and Vision. All you need to know about dry eye treatments: a lay summary of evidence from a suite of Cochrane systematic reviews (n.d.).
4. MedlinePlus. Dry eye syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (2024).
5. NHS - Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dry Eye (patient information leaflet GHPI0862_04_24) (2024).
6. NHS - University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Dry eyes (Sussex Eye Hospital patient information, ref 1061.1) (2025).
7. Annals of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Karachi Medical & Dental College (Mansoori, Qamar, Mubeen). Dry Eye Syndrome and Associated Risk Factors among Computer Users in Karachi, Pakistan (2017).
8. NHS - Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Dry eye syndrome (Ophthalmology patient information leaflet) (2025).

Prepared from the sources listed below by the MedInfoBase team. Last reviewed 16 October 2026. This page is general health information, not medical advice. It gives no doses and does not replace a doctor: talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. How we write and check our pages.

Related conditions

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)GlaucomaRheumatoid arthritisOveractive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

All health conditions