RA
1
1
Mild severity
· Ophthalmology
Dry Eye Disease
Tear film dysfunction · Itchy gritty eyes
Tears either evaporate too fast or are produced too little, leaving the eyes gritty and irritated. Screen breaks and lubricants help most.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- Common in screen-heavy users
- Typical age
- Adults
- Outlook
- Manageable
- System
- Vision
Reviewed by a verified Ophthalmology doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Long screen hours
- Air conditioning, fans
- Contact lenses
- Aging (especially post-menopause)
- Auto-immune (Sjogren's)
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- Gritty, sandy eyes
- Burning, redness
- Blurred vision that clears with blinking
- Light sensitivity
- Reflex watering paradoxically
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- Preservative-free lubricant drops
- Warm compresses, lid hygiene
- Punctal plugs
- Cyclosporine drops
- Treat blepharitis or rosacea
Staying ahead
Prevention
- 20-20-20 screen rule
- Humidify dry rooms
- Limit fan blowing on face
- Treat associated rosacea
Do’s
- Blink completely 10× hourly
- Use preservative-free drops
- Warm-compress eyelids 5 min nightly
- Limit contact lens hours
Don’ts
- Rub itchy eyes
- Buy red-eye 'whitening' drops
- Use expired contact lens solution
- Stare at screens unblinking
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
Top specialists
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Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.