Kelly Burch is a freelance journalist who has covered health topics for more than 10 years. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more.

Bryan Wolynski, OD, is a board-certified community optometrist who has been in the eye care field for over 30 years. He works in private practice in New York City.

Dry eye commonly causes symptoms, including itchiness, burning, and pain. Alternatively, glaucoma is an eye condition that often has no symptoms until it affects a person's vision.

More than half of people who have glaucoma also have dry eye. Both conditions become more common as people age, but there’s also a more causal connection: the treatments for glaucoma can make dry eye worse.

Read on to learn more about the connection between dry eye and glaucoma and why it’s important to treat both proactively.

Dry eye affects about 16 million people in the United States, but it is more common in people with glaucoma. Estimates suggest that 40%-60% of people with glaucoma also have dry eye.

In part, this is because the same people are at risk for both dry eye and glaucoma. For example, both conditions are more common in older people and people with diabetes. 

However, dry eye can also be triggered by the pressure-lowering eye drops used to treat glaucoma. These often contain benzalkonium chloride (BAK), a preservative that can damage cells on the surface of the eye and lead to dry eye.

Glaucoma is considered the more serious condition since it can lead to permanent vision loss. However, dry eye often has more invasive day-to-day symptoms and causes more discomfort. 

It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about treating both conditions. Neither glaucoma nor dry eye is curable. However, they can both be treated. For example, switching to a pressure-lowering eye drop that does not contain BAK can help prevent or reduce the symptoms of dry eye, while still addressing glaucoma.

Dry eye has various causes, leading to the eye surface not being sufficiently moisturized. This may be due to not producing enough tears, having tears that drain too quickly, or having tears that don’t do a good job of lubricating the eye.

In addition, laser eye surgery, which can be used to treat glaucoma, is a risk factor for dry eye.

Environmental factors can also cause dry eye in people with glaucoma. Dry eye can be made worse by:

If you’re dealing with dry eyes and glaucoma, work with your healthcare provider to treat both.

Since glaucoma can lead to irreversible vision changes or blindness, most providers prioritize treating glaucoma. However, dry eye can be unpleasant and lower one's quality of life. Remember, there are ways to treat both conditions, so insist on creating a treatment plan to address dry eye in addition to glaucoma.

Dry eye treatments for people with glaucoma can include:

In addition to the treatment options above, people with glaucoma can follow the typical treatments for dry eye, including:

Finding the right combination of medications can take some trial and error. Communicate openly with your provider, and remember that you’re working together towards finding the best treatment plan.

Dry eyes and glaucoma can frequently occur together. Therefore, it is important to treat both conditions to preserve the best quality of life and vision. Treatment options include specific types of eye drops, laser treatments, and surgery.

Learning that you have glaucoma can be scary. Experiencing dry, itchy, or painful eyes at the same time can feel overwhelming. Remember that dry eye and glaucoma are commonly treated together. There are treatment options available to protect your eyes from glaucoma long-term while also reducing dry eye symptoms. Talk with your healthcare provider about a treatment plan that will leave you both healthy and comfortable.

Dry eye can lead to vision changes if left untreated, although it’s unlikely to make glaucoma worse. However, having well-lubricated eyes can increase the success of surgery to treat glaucoma, so getting dry eyes under control can be part of your overall treatment plan for glaucoma.

People living with glaucoma should avoid excessive screen time or hot, dry places that can worsen dry eyes. If you’re frequently dealing with dry, itchy eyes in addition to glaucoma, talk to your healthcare provider about addressing both issues.

Staying well-hydrated can help your body produce plenty of tears, which can reduce the risk for dry eye. At the same time, avoid caffeine, which can dehydrate you.

Burning eyes are not a symptom of glaucoma, but they are a symptom of dry eye, which many glaucoma patients experience.

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The Glaucoma Foundation. Why is dry eye so prevalent with glaucoma patients?

National Eye Institute. Dry eye.

Glaucoma Research Foundation. Dry eye and glaucoma: double trouble.

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