What is dry eyes?
- Part of the eye
- Tear film
- Group
- Common conditions
- Vision functions involved
- Focus
- Main source
- NHS
Dry eyes happen when you make too few tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. Screens, contact lenses, some medicines and dry or heated rooms can all make symptoms worse.
Optometrist
An eye-care professional who tests sight, checks eye health and can refer you for specialist care.
How dry eyes can affect day-to-day life
You may recognise some of these situations, or none of them. The point is to find help with the things you want to do.
Long sessions at a screen
Your eyes may feel gritty or sore, water, or become blurred during prolonged screen use.
Take regular breaks and position the screen slightly below eye level.
Heated rooms and windy days
Dry air, wind and dust can make symptoms more troublesome.
Spend less time in dry or dusty surroundings where you can. A humidifier helps if the indoor air is dry.
Wearing contact lenses
Contact lenses may become uncomfortable when your eyes are dry.
Use glasses to give your eyes a rest and ask for advice if symptoms persist. A red eye while wearing contacts needs urgent assessment.
Changes you may notice
- Gritty, sore, itchy or watery eyes.
- Blur which comes and goes, and discomfort in dry surroundings.
Everyone is different. Symptoms on their own cannot identify a condition.
What to do about a new or sudden changeAssessment and care
A pharmacist or optometrist can suggest lubricating drops and lid care. Take regular screen breaks and give your eyes a rest from contact lenses. Get assessed if symptoms persist. Do not stop prescribed medicines without advice.
How vision is affected
These topics explain the parts of vision involved. They do not predict your sight, diagnose anything or show the condition itself.
Focus
The cornea and lens focus light onto the retina. A focusing problem is different from damage to the light-sensitive cells or the optic nerve.
Open the focus labEveryday support
A painful red eye, especially with contact lenses, needs urgent advice. New loss of sight, marked light sensitivity or severe symptoms need emergency assessment rather than dry-eye treatment.
A question to take to your appointment
Is this dry eye, a lid problem or something else, and which drops suit me?Prepare your appointment checklist
Sources and review status
Sources checked 4 October 2026. Educational draft, not yet clinically reviewed. No clinician has endorsed this page. Follow the advice of your own eye-care team.
How this content is prepared