Many people get dry eyes. It's not usually serious and there are things you can do to help.
You may have dry eyes if your eyes are:
- itchy
- sore
- gritty
- red
- blurry
- sensitive to light
- more watery than normal
Causes of dry eyes
You may be more likely to get dry eyes if:
- you're over the age of 50
- you wear contact lenses
- you look at computer screens for a long time without a break
- you spend time in air conditioned or heated environments
- it's windy, cold, dry or dusty
- you smoke or drink alcohol
- you take certain medicines (for example, some antidepressants or blood pressure drugs)
- you have a condition, such as blepharitis, Sjögren's syndrome or lupus
Do
-
keep your eyes clean
-
take breaks to rest your eyes when using a computer screen
-
make sure your computer screen is at eye level so you do not strain your eyes
-
use a humidifier to stop the air getting dry
-
get plenty of sleep to rest your eyes
-
if you wear contact lenses, take them out and wear glasses to rest your eyes
Don’t
-
do not smoke or drink too much alcohol
-
do not spend too long in smoky, dry or dusty places
-
do not spend too long in air conditioned or heated rooms
-
do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without getting medical advice first – even if you think it's causing your symptoms
A pharmacist may be able to tell you:
- what you can do to treat it yourself – such as cleaning and protecting your eyes
- if you can buy anything to help – such as eye drops, gels, ointments or allergy medicines
- if you need to see an optician or GP
See an optician or GP if:
- you still have dry eyes after trying home treatments for a few weeks
- there's any change in the shape of your eyelids
They can check what the cause might be and recommend treatment for it.
If an optician or GP cannot find a cause, they may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for tests.
Ask for an urgent appointment if:
- you have any changes to your vision, such as loss of vision