Dry Eye
Gritty, burning, tired eyes, especially after a day at a screen. Dry eye is very common and usually long term, but it can be kept comfortable. Blinking, lid care and the right drops do most of the work.
What it is: your eyes don’t make enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly. Eyes can feel dry, gritty, sore or tired, look red, and sometimes water a lot as they try to make up for it.
Common causes: getting older, hormone changes, screens and reading (we blink less), wind, sun, air conditioning and smoke, contact lenses, laser eye surgery and some medicines.
Related conditions: blepharitis (inflamed eyelids) is a common partner. Rosacea, Sjögren’s syndrome and some types of arthritis can also cause dry eye.
The dry eye ladder
Lubricating drops help most people. Give a product 6 to 8 weeks. Eyelid care matters when blepharitis is part of the picture.
- Step 1 · Self-careBlink, take breaks and fix your setupBlink often and take regular screen breaks. Put your monitor at or slightly below eye level. Avoid smoky rooms, limit time in air conditioning, wear wraparound glasses in wind, and try a humidifier.
- Works
- Can be enough for mild dry eye
- Cost
- Free
- How long
- Ongoing
- Watch for
- Contact lenses can make dryness worse; shorten wearing time if they irritate.
Screens: we stare, we forget to blink, we suffer.
- Step 2 · PharmacyLubricating eye drops (artificial tears)Drops such as hypromellose, carmellose or hyaluronate. Use them as often as needed. Preservative-free single-use drops suit frequent use and contact lens wearers.
- Works
- Helps most people; products vary, so try one for 6 to 8 weeks before switching
- Cost
- About $10–25
- How long
- Ongoing
- Watch for
- Ask for the active ingredient rather than a brand.
Not all drops are equal, and your eyes get a vote.
- Step 3 · PharmacyGels and night-time ointmentThicker gels last longer. Paraffin-based ointments are best at night because they blur vision.
- Works
- Useful for more severe dryness, or eyes that feel worst on waking
- Cost
- About $10–20
- How long
- Ongoing
- Watch for
- Gels are usually used 30 minutes before putting in contact lenses.
Moisturiser for your eyeballs, basically.
- Step 4 · Self-careEyelid hygieneClean along the lash line with cooled boiled water on a clean cotton pad or with eyelid wipes, especially if you have blepharitis.
- Works
- Helps when blocked or inflamed eyelid glands are part of the cause
- Cost
- Free to about $15
- How long
- Daily, long term
- Watch for
- Avoid eye make-up on the lash line, which can block the oil glands.
Tiny glands, big job.
- Step 5 · GP, optometrist or eye specialistLook for a causeReview of medicines and conditions like rosacea or Sjögren’s syndrome, and referral if symptoms are severe or not improving.
- Works
- Finds and treats causes that drops alone won’t fix
- Cost
- Fees vary; Medicare rebates for GP and specialist visits
- How long
- Weeks
- Watch for
- See someone promptly if symptoms change or get worse.
If the drops aren’t cutting it, it’s time for a closer look.
Save your money
Popular, heavily marketed or often asked about, but the evidence is weak or says no.
- Omega-3 (fish oil) supplementsA 2019 Cochrane review found they may make little or no difference to symptoms compared with a dummy pill. The evidence is uncertain.
What you can do
- Take regular screen breaks and remember to blink.
- Turn air-conditioning vents and fans away from your face.
- Drink enough water and avoid smoke.
- Remove eye make-up every night.
- If you have red cheeks and flushing, read our rosacea fact sheet; it can affect the eyes.
- Get regular eye checks with an optometrist.
See your GP if
- Drops haven’t helped after 6 to 8 weeks
- Symptoms change or get worse
- You also have a very dry mouth, joint pain or swelling
- You think a medicine might be causing it
See a doctor or optometrist the same day if you have a painful red eye, sensitivity to light, or any change in your vision. These are not typical of dry eye.
Common questions
What causes dry eyes?
Ageing, hormone changes, screen use, air conditioning, wind, contact lenses, some medicines and conditions such as blepharitis. Often several at once.
Which eye drops are best for dry eyes?
There is no single best drop. Lubricating drops such as hypromellose, carmellose or hyaluronate all help. Try one for 6 to 8 weeks. Preservative-free drops are better if you use them often or wear contact lenses.
Does fish oil help dry eyes?
Probably not much. A 2019 Cochrane review found omega-3 supplements may make little or no difference to symptoms compared with placebo.
Can dry eye be cured?
Usually not, but it can be kept comfortable with drops, lid care and changes to your environment and screen habits.
Helpful resources
- NHS Sussex: Dry eyes patient leafletSelf-care and drop choices. Free, UK.
- Styes fact sheetLumps on the eyelid. Free, from us.
- Conjunctivitis fact sheetWhen red eyes are an infection or allergy. Free, from us.
Evidence and more information
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS: Dry eyes (2024)
- Cochrane 2019: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for dry eye disease
maladywise.com/dry-eye/