If your eyes feel tired, gritty or irritated, here’s the quick guide to what’s really going on.

What dry eye actually is

Your natural tears aren’t doing their job properly.
Either:

• You don’t produce enough tears, or

• Your tears evaporate too quickly.

This makes your tears saltier, which leads to inflammation and discomfort.

Is dry eye a real disease?

Yes. Dry eye is listed as a chronic, progressive condition in the WHO World Report on Vision.
It doesn’t disappear on its own — but with the right care, it can be controlled.

Common symptoms

• Dry, scratchy, gritty eyes

• Heavy, tired or sore eyes

• Blurred vision that clears when you blink

• Excessive watering (very common in dry eye!)

Types of dry eye

You may have one type or a mix of both:

1️⃣ Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye (ADDE)

Not enough watery tears.

2️⃣ Evaporative Dry Eye (EDE)

Not enough protective oil layer, so your tears evaporate too fast.

Your treatment depends on which type you have — this is why a proper assessment is important.

What causes dry eye?

• Ageing

• Hormone changes

• Long hours on screens

• Air-con & central heating

• Medications

• Conditions such as diabetes or arthritis

How common is it?

Around 1 in 3 adults in the UK have dry eye (Aston University study).

Why you shouldn’t ignore it

Dry eye can affect:

• The surface of your eye

• Comfort in glasses and contact lenses

• The quality of your vision

It’s also linked with poor sleep, anxiety, and low mood.