Most People Ignore These Everyday Causes of Dry Eyes. Here’s How to Fix Them.

HERE’S ONE MORE reason you should get up from your desk more frequently: In addition to potentially spiking your blood sugar and leading to backaches, too much time spent parked in a chair and staring at your screen is one reason you may be dealing with dry eyes from time to time.

But there are other factors that can lead to your eyes feeling gritty and uncomfortable, too. Below are some of the most common causes of dry eyes, plus ways doctors recommend relieving your symptoms.

Meet the experts: Ashley Brissette, MD, is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and assistant professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian Hospital. Arvind Saini, MD, is a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology based in Escondido, California. David Bilstrom, MD, is a doctor specializing in autoimmune functional medicine based in Blackfoot, Idaho.

Potential Reasons You Have Dry Eyes1.Your eyes’ oil glands aren’t working properly.
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is one of the most common causes of dry eye. It happens when the tiny oil glands in your eyelids, called meibomian glands, don’t release enough oil into your tears, which causes them to evaporate too quickly. Just like oil floats on water, this oily layer sits on top of our tears to help keep them from drying out, says Arvind Saini, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

MGD is often linked to inflammation in the eyelids, a condition more commonly known as blepharitis, per the Cleveland Clinic. And, MGD can lead to dry eye disease (DED), also sometimes called dry eye syndrome, a chronic disease. So, if you suspect MGD is behind your dry eyes, make an appointment with your eye doctor who may recommend an in-office procedure, medication, or lifestyle tweaks like using a warm compress.

2. You’re deficient in vitamin D.If you live in a region that doesn’t get much sunlight, especially during the winter, you may have a vitamin D deficiency. And being low in this important nutrient can contribute to dry eye, according to a 2023 study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. “Vitamin D itself can help decrease inflammation in the eye and improve tear quality to keep the eye moist,” says David Bilstrom, MD, a doctor specializing in autoimmune functional medicine. Ask your primary care doctor for a blood test to check your vitamin D levels—and always confer with your provider before starting any new supplements.

3. You wear contacts.Because contact lenses sit directly on the surface of the eye, they can mess with the natural lubrication process. “Contacts can disrupt the thin layer of lipids (fats) on the surface of the eye that helps prevent moisture from evaporating,” says Ashley Brissette, MD, spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and assistant professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian Hospital. “The lenses can also reduce oxygen flow to the cornea and mechanically interfere with blinking, which is essential for spreading tears evenly across the eye.” Over time, this can lead to MGD. “Sometimes getting out of the contact lenses can help, and stopping their wear may be needed,” Dr. Brissette says.

4. You’re over 60.About 15% of people 70–79 years old and 20% of people older than 80 years have DED, research shows. As we age, tear production tends to decline due to a mix of factors including that the meibomian glands, which produce the oil layer that prevents tear evaporation, often decline in function, and the lacrimal glands become less efficient, Dr. Brissette says. “Older adults may blink less fully, take medications that reduce tear production, or have underlying health conditions, like diabetes or autoimmune diseases,” she adds.

Let’s zero in on those medications: Antihistamines, antidepressants, beta-blockers, decongestants, oral contraceptives, chemotherapy medications, and isotretinoin are all examples of medications that can cause dry eye symptoms, Dr. Saini says. “They lead to symptoms primarily because they can impact the normal production of tears, either by leading to less tear production, reducing meibomian gland secretion, or affecting the composition of tears.” If you’re on any prescription meds and you think they may be causing dry eyes, talk to your doctor about switching to a different treatment—and try some of the helpful tips below for fast relief.

5. You have an autoimmune disease.Autoimmune diseases are often linked to inflammation, which can lead to dry eyes directly and indirectly. Take Sjögren’s syndrome, which overwhelmingly affects women but still can impact one out 10 men. It occurs when the immune system attacks the lacrimal glands, the glands that produce tears, leading to chronic dryness. Other autoimmune conditions, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause inflammation and damage to the tear-secreting glands, contributing to dry eye disease, Dr. Bilstrom says. “We see systemic diseases like diabetes and thyroid disease lead to decreased tear production,” Dr. Saini adds. Your provider may be able to prescribe a treatment if one of these conditions is behind your dry eyes.

6. You work at a desk all day.Staring at a screen all day isn’t making matters any better for your irritated eyes. There are several factors at play here, but a major issue is that concentrating on a screen causes you to blink less.

Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops

“We tend to stare when we look at screens, and this lack of blinking allows the tears to evaporate in between blinks, which can accelerate irritation and microbreaks to the skin on the surface of the eye, and lead to dry eye symptoms,” Dr. Saini says. A good rule of thumb is to follow the 20/20/20 rule as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Here’s what to do: Take a break every 20 minutes and stare off into the distance 20 feet away from you; then, blink and relax your eyes for 20 seconds. “Also, taking artificial tears if you have prolonged work to do on your computer can help if you are prone to dry eye symptoms,” Dr. Saini says.

7. You live in a dry climate.If you live in arid areas or spend a lot of time in the AC, you might experience more dry eye symptoms. Indeed, moist climates are better for people dealing with eye irritation caused by dryness, per a 2020 study in Translational Vision Science & Technology. While you can’t control your local weather, you can create a more humid environment—like with a humidifier—where you spend the most time, which can help with dry eye symptoms, Dr. Saini says.

8. You have a skin condition such as rosacea.Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that affects the face. When it involves the eyelids, it can lead to blepharitis by causing the skin around the gland openings at the edge of the eyelid to thicken, making it harder for oil to flow out of the glands properly, Dr. Saini says. It can also cause inflammation within the glands themselves, making the meibomian secretions thicker and more waxy. This thicker oil can get trapped, leading to buildup and stagnation inside the glands, Dr. Saini says. If rosacea is the root cause of the dry eye, treating it can help with your eye-related symptoms, but you’ll want to visit your ophthalmologist and/or dermatologist for an appropriate treatment plan.

9. You had laser eye surgery.If you’ve had refractive surgery, such as LASIK, PRK, or SMILE, you might notice your eyes are a bit drier. Dr. Brissette says that these laser procedures can disrupt the corneal nerves that help regulate tear production, but the effects are usually temporary. What’s more, the eye drops prescribed post-surgery can disrupt the surface of the eye, potentially triggering dryness. Still, they’re necessary for the healing process, so don’t skip them, Dr. Brissette says. In the meantime, you can use artificial tears and follow some of the advice below to help.

How To Treat Dry Eyes

If you’re just dealing with the occasional dry eye, consider some of the following eye-healthy habits. “As an ophthalmologist, I always emphasize that the first line of therapy for dry eye involves the basics,” Dr. Brissette says. “And, to be honest, these are practices that everyone should follow because they support overall eye health.”

Use preservative-free artificial tears daily, as neededApply warm compresses to support the meibomian glandsMaintain good eyelid hygiene by using an eyelid cleanserStay hydrated and prioritize good nutrition (like getting enough vitamin D and omega-3s) If you’re looking for a more lasting solution, there are some in-office treatments you can turn to. “Procedural treatments, such as punctal plugs, meibomian gland expression, or thermal pulsation therapy, are safe, quick, and effective, and can be considered at any stage,” Dr. Brissette says. Prescription eye drops can also be effective. “Prescription eye drops work by improving the homeostasis of the ocular surface, helping the body produce more of its own tears and helping with surface hydration over time,” Dr. Brissette says.

Ultimately, talk to your doctor about a treatment plan that’s personalized to your specific lifestyle, symptom severity, and underlying causes.