What is dry eye syndrome and what causes it?

Dry, gritty, itchy eyes? You're not alone. Millions of people around the world suffer from dry eye syndrome, a condition that can affect your comfort, clarity of vision, and quality of life.

In this blog, we’ll explain:

What dry eye syndrome is
The role of your tear film
What causes dry eyes
How it can affect your day-to-day
What you can do to treat it

What is dry eye syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome (also known as dry eye disease) is a common condition where your eyes either don’t make enough tears or the tears you produce aren’t good quality.

This can lead to symptoms like:

Dryness
Burning or stinging
Grittiness (like sand in your eye)
Redness
Blurred vision
Eye fatigue.

For some, it’s a mild annoyance. For others, it can make reading, driving, or working on screens very uncomfortable.

Understanding the tear film

To understand dry eyes, it helps to understand the tear film — a thin layer of moisture that coats the surface of your eye.

The tear film has three layers:

Oil (lipid) layer: Stops tears from evaporating too quickly
Water (aqueous) layer: Hydrates and washes away debris
Mucus (mucin) layer: Helps spread tears evenly over the surface.

If any one of these layers is out of balance, the tear film becomes unstable. That’s called tear film dysfunction, and it’s at the heart of most dry eye problems.

What causes dry eyes?

Dry eyes can be caused by many things. Common causes include:

Ageing: Tear production naturally decreases as we get older
Hormonal changes: Especially during menopause
Screen use: Staring at screens reduces how often you blink
Contact lenses: Can disrupt the tear film
Eye surgery: LASIK or cataract surgery may temporarily reduce tear production
Medical conditions: Like Sjögren’s syndrome, blepharitis, or diabetes
Environmental factors: Dry air, wind, heating or air conditioning
Medications: Antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs.

Often, it’s a mix of several of these.

How do dry eyes affect daily life?

Dry eyes aren’t just annoying — they can get in the way of:

Reading for long periods
Working on a computer
Driving, especially at night
Wearing contact lenses
Being outdoors in wind or sun.

Some people feel irritated all the time. Others notice blurry vision that comes and goes throughout the day.

Can dry eyes damage your vision?

In most cases, dry eye is more uncomfortable than dangerous. But if left untreated, it can lead to:

Increased risk of eye infections
Damage to the corneal surface
Sensitivity to light.

That’s why it’s important to treat dry eye early — especially if it’s affecting your lifestyle or vision.

How is dry eye diagnosed?

At My Eye Clinic in Gosforth, we use advanced tools to:

Measure tear production
Assess tear film quality
Check for signs of inflammation or damage

This helps us create a personalised treatment plan that targets the cause, not just the symptoms.

What’s next?

If you’re constantly rubbing your eyes or relying on drops, it might be time for a proper dry eye assessment.