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 optometrist who has been in the field for over 30 years. He is an adjunct assistant clinical professor at SUNY College of Optometry ​and works in private practice in New York City.

Dry eye is a condition in which tears do not properly lubricate the eye. This can lead to a painful and irritating sensation in the eye(s) and serious complications, including blurry vision and vision loss. Read on to learn why your eyes could be dry, as well as prevention and treatment methods.

Millions of Americans suffer from dry eyes. While it might seem like a simple irritation, it is a major symptom of dry eye syndrome.

Dry eye describes eyes that don’t stay lubricated for a variety of reasons. It’s important to manage dry eye, not just for your comfort, but also to avoid unwanted side effects, including vision changes or vision loss.

Dry eye affects an estimated 16 million Americans, or about 6% of the adult population.

Dry eye can occur if your body doesn’t make enough tears, or if your tears dry up or drain too quickly. At its root, dry eye is caused by a tear system that is not working properly.

In healthy eyes, tears are produced in glands above the eye. When you blink, a tear film spreads over the eyeball, protecting the eye and keeping the eyeball moist, which helps with vision. The tears then drain into your tear ducts, found at the inner corners of your eyes.  

When something in this process goes wrong, dry eye can occur.

There are a host of reasons that your tear system might not work correctly. Some common risk factors for dry eye include:

Environmental factors also contribute to dry eye. If it’s very hot or windy where you are, your tears will evaporate more quickly. In addition, smoke, allergens and other irritants can dry out the eye.

If you have dry eyes, you’ll usually notice your eyes feeling irritated.

Other symptoms of dry eye include:

In many cases, dry eye isn’t something you can control. However, if you suffer from dry eye, there are some measures you can take to minimize the dry, itchy feeling, including:

If you consistently have dry eyes, or start experiencing any vision changes like blurriness, you should speak with your healthcare provider. They can recommend treatment for dry eyes, including:

Dry eye occurs when a person's eyes do not produce enough tears to lubricate them properly. Dry eyes can cause pain and irritation in the eyes and lead to vision changes or loss. Actions can be taken to prevent dry eye, and treatment options are available.

It’s common for people to experience dry, scratchy eyes occasionally. However, if you constantly wonder why your eyes are so dry, you might have chronic dry eye. Fortunately, dry eye is very treatable with a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatment. Remember that dry eye isn’t just an irritation; it’s an actual medical condition that can have a lasting impact on your vision if it’s not treated.

If your eyes are irritated, try using an artificial tear product without additives or preservatives. You should also avoid contact lenses and minimize screen time.

Many people experience dry eyes occasionally. However, if you frequently have dry, itchy eyes, you might have chronic dry eye. You should talk to your healthcare provider about options like eye drops or supplements that can help control your symptoms. 

If you have irritated eyes, you might experience relief soon after you use artificial tears. However, it can take much longer to address the causes of dry eye. If you have dry eyes often, talk to your healthcare provider about preventative measures and treatments, which might include taking supplements or using prescription eye drops.

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National Eye Institute. Dry eye.

National Eye Institute. Causes of dry eye.

American Optometric Association. Dry eye.

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