Can stress cause dry eyes​?

Have your eyes ever felt sore, tired, or dry on a busy or stressful day?
You may think dry eyes only happen because of screens, allergies, or not drinking enough water. But stress can also play a big part.

At My Eye Clinic in Gosforth, many people ask, “Can stress really cause dry eyes?”
The answer is yes, stress can make dry eye symptoms worse, and sometimes it can even trigger them.

In this blog, we’ll look at how stress affects your eyes, what signs to look for, and what you can do to help your eyes feel better.

What are dry eyes?

Dry eyes happen when your eyes don’t make enough tears, or when your tears don’t stay on your eyes long enough.

Your tears help keep your eyes:

• Moist
• Smooth
• Clear
• Protected

When you don’t have enough tears, your eyes can feel:

• Dry
• Gritty
• Sore
• Tired
• Watery
• Blurry

Dry eyes are common, but stress can make the feeling much worse.

How does stress affect your eyes?

Stress changes the way your body works. When you feel stressed, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode. This can affect many things, including your eyes.

Here are some ways stress can lead to dry eyes:

1. Stress reduces tear production

When you feel stressed, your body may slow down tear production. This means your eyes don’t get the moisture they need.

2. Stress can change your hormones

Hormones play a big role in tear quality. When stress changes your hormone levels, your tears may evaporate faster or become less stable.

3. Stress makes you blink less

When you feel worried or tense, you may blink less often.
Blinking spreads tears across your eyes, so blinking less leads to dryness.

4. Stress affects sleep

Poor sleep can make dry eyes feel much worse. If you’re tired, your eyes may burn or feel heavy.

5. Stress can cause inflammation

Stress in the body can cause mild inflammation. This can affect the glands in your eyelids that make the oily part of your tears.

All of this means stress can make your eyes feel irritated, tired, and dry, especially at the end of the day.

Signs your dry eyes may be linked to stress

Not sure if stress is affecting your eyes? You may notice:

• Your eyes feel worse during busy or emotional times
• Dryness is stronger at the end of a long day
• Your eyes burn even when you’ve not used screens much
• You have headaches or tense muscles along with eye discomfort
• Your eyes feel better on calm, restful days

Stress doesn’t always cause dry eyes on its own. But it can make mild symptoms feel much worse.

Other causes of dry eyes

While stress plays a role, dry eyes can also happen because of:

• Long screen time
• Ageing
• Menopause
• Contact lens wear
• Some medications
• Dehydration
• Air conditioning or heating
• Eye conditions like blepharitis
• Medical conditions like rosacea or autoimmune issues

Often, dry eyes are caused by a mix of things. This is why it’s important to have a proper dry eye assessment to understand the root cause.

What can you do to help stress-related dry eyes?

The good news is there are many simple steps that can make a big difference.

1. Take screen breaks

Try the 20-20-20 rule:
Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

This helps your eyes blink and refresh.

2. Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water helps your body make healthy tears.

3. Blink more often

Blinking spreads moisture across your eyes.
Try gently closing your eyes for a few seconds throughout the day.

4. Warm compresses

Warm compresses help the glands in your eyelids make better quality tears.

5. Use lubricating eye drops

Artificial tears can give instant relief.
Choose preservative-free drops if you use them often.

6. Try relaxation techniques

Stress relief can also help your eyes. You might try:

• Deep breathing
• Gentle stretching
• Meditation
• Short walks
• Listening to calming music

Even a few minutes can help relax your eyes and mind.

When should you see an eye specialist?

If your eyes feel dry all the time, or if the discomfort is getting worse, it’s important to get your eyes checked.

At My Eye Clinic in Gosforth, we offer a full dry eye assessment.
This helps us understand:

• How well your tears work
• The health of your eyelid glands
• Whether inflammation is present
• What may be causing your symptoms

Once we know the cause, we can recommend the best treatment.
This may include:

IPL Therapy

Helps reduce inflammation and improve tear quality.

BlephEx®

Deep-cleans the eyelids to remove bacteria and debris.

Prescription drops

Help reduce inflammation and protect the eye surface.

Lifestyle guidance

We help you understand daily habits that can improve your eyes long-term.

Final thoughts

Stress can absolutely make dry eyes worse, and in some cases, it can even trigger them.
When you feel stressed, your body makes fewer tears, your glands may not work as well, and your blinking slows down. All of this leads to dryness and irritation.

The good news is that with the right care, your eyes can feel comfortable again.

At My Eye Clinic, we can help you understand the cause of your dry eyes and find the best treatment for lasting relief.

Take our dry eye suitability self-test today and start your journey to clearer, more comfortable eyes.