---
title: "Dry eyes: Symptoms, Causes & NHS Treatment | HealthAnswers"
description: "A plain-English guide to dry eyes — causes, self-care and treatments that help."
url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/dry-eyes/
robots: noindex
---

# Dry eyes: Symptoms, Causes & NHS Treatment | HealthAnswers

Health A–Z

A plain-English guide to dry eyes — causes, self-care and treatments that help.

Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [Mr Mohamed Mohyudin MBChB, FRCOphth](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/mohamed-mohyudin/) · GMC 7039600 Reviewed 10 June 2026

## Quick answer

What are dry eyes? Dry eyes happen when your eyes do not make enough tears, or the tears dry too quickly. They feel gritty, itchy, sore or watery, and are very common — especially with age, screen use and dry environments. Lubricating eye drops and simple habits usually bring relief.

## Who is this page for?

This page is for people in the UK who want a plain-English overview of Dry eyes, including when to seek help and what NHS care usually involves. It explains general information, not what is wrong with you personally.

## Who should skip this page?

Skip this page if you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or emergency care. It cannot replace a GP, pharmacist, NHS 111 or 999. If you are in immediate danger, call 999; for urgent advice that is not life-threatening, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales, or use your GP out-of-hours service in Northern Ireland.

On this page 5 sections

## Key facts about dry eyes

- Dry eyes feel gritty, sore, itchy — and can paradoxically water.
- Common causes include age, screens, contact lenses and dry air.
- Lubricating eye drops from a pharmacy usually help.
- Regular screen breaks and a few habits make a real difference.

## What are dry eyes?

Dry eyes happen when the eyes do not produce enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly to keep the surface comfortable. It is a very common problem — particularly with age, heavy screen use and modern indoor environments — and it usually responds well to simple treatment.

## Symptoms

Dry eyes can feel:

- gritty, like something is in the eye

- itchy, sore or burning

- temporarily blurry

- and, paradoxically, watery — irritation triggers reflex tears that don’t lubricate well

## Common causes

Age is the biggest factor, as tear production naturally falls. Other contributors include long screen sessions (we blink far less), contact lenses, wind and dry air, air conditioning and central heating, some medicines, and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).

## Treatment and self-care

The mainstay is **lubricating eye drops** (artificial tears), used regularly rather than only when symptoms flare; gels and ointments give longer-lasting relief overnight. A pharmacist can recommend options, including preservative-free drops for frequent use.

Alongside drops: take regular screen breaks and blink deliberately, position screens a little below eye level, humidify dry rooms, shield eyes from wind, rest from contact lenses, and keep eyelids clean if blepharitis is part of the picture.

## When to get checked

See a GP or optician if symptoms persist despite a few weeks of treatment, or if you have pain, light sensitivity, marked redness or vision changes. Sudden eye pain or sudden change in vision needs urgent attention — those are never just dryness.

## ! When to see a GP about dry eyes

See a pharmacist first — lubricating drops, gels and ointments help most people. See a GP or optician if symptoms persist despite treatment, or you also have pain, light sensitivity, changes to vision or very red eyes. Seek **urgent** advice for sudden eye pain or sudden vision change, which are never just dry eyes.

## Common questions about dry eyes

Why do my dry eyes water so much? It sounds contradictory, but dryness irritates the eye, which then produces a flood of poor-quality reflex tears that don't lubricate well. Watery eyes are a common sign of dry eye. What causes dry eyes? Common causes include getting older, long screen use (we blink less), contact lenses, dry or windy environments, air conditioning and heating, some medicines, and eyelid inflammation (blepharitis). What is the best treatment for dry eyes? Lubricating eye drops ("artificial tears") used regularly — not just when sore — plus gels or ointments at night for more persistent dryness. A pharmacist can recommend suitable ones, including preservative-free options for frequent use. How can I prevent dry eyes? Take regular screen breaks and consciously blink, position screens slightly below eye level, use a humidifier in dry rooms, protect eyes from wind, have regular breaks from contact lenses, and clean eyelids if you have blepharitis.

## Sources

- [NHS — Dry eyes](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dry-eyes/)