Dry eye disease, explained
Understand your dry eye
before you see a doctor.
Plain-English education on dry eye types, causes and treatments — from artificial tears to in-office procedures — and a connection to a licensed eye doctor near you.
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2 areas of focus
Optometry & primary eye care and Ophthalmology & dry eye specialty care.
Optometry & primary eye care
Dry eye evaluation & diagnosis, Evaporative dry eye & MGD, Aqueous-deficient dry eye, Blepharitis & lid margin disease, Ocular allergy, Contact lens discomfort and Screens & digital eye strain.
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Ophthalmology & dry eye specialty care
Prescription dry eye treatment, Punctal plugs & in-office procedures and Sjögren's & autoimmune-related dry eye.
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What do you want to work on?
Dry eye basics
What dry eye disease is, how common it is, and how to tell it apart from other eye problems.
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Types of dry eye
Evaporative dry eye (MGD) vs aqueous-deficient dry eye, and why the type matters for treatment.
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Causes of dry eye
Screens, age, hormones, medications and autoimmune disease — what's actually behind dry eye.
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Diagnosing dry eye
How eye doctors actually test for dry eye, beyond a quick look.
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Dry eye treatments
From artificial tears and prescription drops to punctal plugs and in-office procedures.
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Blepharitis & eyelid disease
Crusty, red or irritated eyelids, and how they connect to dry eye.
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Related eye conditions
Eye allergies, contact lens discomfort and Sjögren's — conditions people search for alongside dry eye.
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When to see a doctor
What's routine, what needs an appointment soon, and what needs urgent care right away.
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Who we help
Wherever you’re starting from.
People on screens all day
relief from dry, tired eyes caused by long hours on a computer and reduced blinking
Older adults with dry eye
to understand why dry eye gets more common with age and what long-term management looks like
Contact lens wearers
to fix dry, uncomfortable contacts without giving up lenses entirely
People with hormone-related dry eye
to understand dry eye linked to menopause or other hormonal changes, and real treatment options
People on medications that dry the eyes
to know whether antihistamines, antidepressants or other medications are behind their dry eye
People with autoimmune disease
coordinated eye care for Sjögren's or another autoimmune condition affecting the eyes
People with recurring eyelid problems
to get ahead of crusty, red or recurring eyelid irritation and styes
People considering an in-office procedure
honest information on punctal plugs, thermal pulsation or IPL before booking one
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is dry eye disease?
Dry eye disease is a chronic condition where the eyes don't produce enough tears, or the tears aren't the right quality to keep the eye's surface comfortable and healthy, leading to symptoms like grittiness, burning, redness and blurry vision that comes and goes.
What's the difference between evaporative and aqueous-deficient dry eye?
Evaporative dry eye — the most common type, usually from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) — happens when the oily layer of the tear film breaks down and tears evaporate too fast, while aqueous-deficient dry eye happens when the glands simply don't produce enough of the watery part of tears; many people have a mix of both.
What causes dry eye?
Dry eye can come from reduced blinking during long screen use, aging, hormonal changes like menopause, certain medications (antihistamines, antidepressants and others), autoimmune conditions like Sjögren's syndrome, and eyelid conditions like blepharitis — often more than one cause is involved.
How is dry eye diagnosed?
An eye doctor diagnoses dry eye with a comprehensive exam that can include tear breakup time testing, tear film osmolarity testing and meibography to look at the oil-producing glands, rather than relying on symptoms alone, since the specific type found changes which treatment works best.
What treatments are available for dry eye?
Treatment ranges from artificial tears and warm compresses at home, to prescription anti-inflammatory drops, punctal plugs that help tears stay on the eye longer, and in-office procedures like thermal pulsation or IPL for glands that aren't working well — some devices are FDA-cleared for dry eye or MGD specifically, so ask your provider what's cleared for your situation.
Is blepharitis the same as dry eye?
No — blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid margins that causes crusty, red or itchy eyelids, but it very often occurs alongside dry eye and the two are frequently treated together.
When should I see a doctor urgently for eye symptoms?
Sudden vision loss, sudden severe eye pain, or an eye injury are not routine dry eye symptoms — those need urgent care right away or a call to 911, rather than waiting for a scheduled eye appointment.