Sneaky Dry Eye Symptoms Women Often Miss—Including Watery Eyes—Plus the Best Treatment Options
From prescription remedies to at-home care, experts reveal what really helps
Key Takeaways
- Dry eye symptoms often develop gradually and are easy to mistake for something else.
- Menopause, screen time and certain medications can all increase dry eye disease risk.
- Blinking more often and using artificial tears may help relieve symptoms at home.
Cracked and irritated skin? It’s probably dry. Brittle strands? Your hair’s probably in need of some moisture. These warning signs of dryness tend to be obvious. But it turns out the symptoms of dry eye can be much harder to spot (spoiler alert: Watery eyes could actually mean they’re dry!).
The National Eye Institute reports that about 16.4 million Americans live with dry eye, so you wouldn’t be alone. In fact, in an interview with Fox News, Jennifer Aniston, 57, revealed that she lived with dry eye for years, thinking she had allergies and not understanding what was causing her symptoms. Modern Family actress Julie Bowen, 56, also shared with Fox News that she was diagnosed with dry eye, a condition her doctor explained is mostly caused by inflammation. So we asked the experts what dry eye symptoms you might mistake for something else and what you can actually do about them.
What is dry eye?
“Dry eye means the surface of your eye is not staying properly coated with tears,” explains Krishna Surapaneni, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained ophthalmologist specializing in cataract, refractive, glaucoma and corneal surgery. “Tears are not just salt water. They are a three-layer film of oil, water and mucus that keeps the surface smooth and comfortable. If your eyes do not make enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly because the oil layer is weak, the surface dries out and gets irritated. That is what an eye doctor means by dry eyes.”
Woman's World Answers
What causes the condition?
Unlike other parts of our body, where we can often pinpoint the habit that may have led to dryness, eyes aren’t quite so straightforward. So what could be the issue? Dr. Surapaneni says the most common causes he sees include:
- Age
- Hormonal changes, such as menopause
- Long hours of screen time, when we’re not blinking as often
- Wearing contact lenses
- Clogged oil glands in the eyelids
- Dry or air-conditioned environments
- Medications, including antidepressants, blood pressure medications and antihistamines
- Autoimmune conditions, such as Sjogren’s syndrome
“Lifestyle factors such as makeup use and environmental exposures like smog or smoky environments can also irritate the eyes and lead to dry eye,” adds Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty.
Common dry eye symptoms
If a recent routine visit to your optometrist or ophthalmologist revealed that you have dry eye and it came as a shock, Dr. Surapaneni says it happens all the time.
“The surface changes of dry eye show up under the microscope before people connect their symptoms to it,” explains Dr. Surapaneni. “Patients come in convinced their glasses prescription changed, and the real culprit is an unstable tear film. Dryness builds slowly, so people adapt and assume tired, scratchy eyes at the end of the day are just normal.”
The most common dry eye symptoms include:
- A gritty or sandy feeling
- Red or irritated eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Blurriness or vision fluctuations
Dr. Surapaneni adds that stinging or burning, eyes that tire quickly after reading and difficulty wearing contact lenses could all point to the condition. You may also notice symptoms become more noticeable after screen time or later in the day, he adds. Meanwhile, Dr. Hilal-Campo explains that if you keep getting pink eye, dry eye may be the real underlying cause.
2 sneaky dry eye symptoms
It sounds counterintuitive, but Dr. Surapaneni and Dr. Hilal-Campo both say especially watery eyes could actually be a symptom of dry eye. “When the surface is irritated, the eye floods itself with emergency tears, so people with dry eyes often complain that their eyes water constantly,” explains Dr. Surapaneni. “They assume dry means dry, rule it out and treat the wrong problem for years.”
And the way you sleep could also contribute to dry eye without you even realizing it. “Sleeping with your eyes partially open can contribute to dry eyes because the tears evaporate more quickly when the eyes are not fully closed,” explains Dr. Hilal-Campo.
Not sure if you sleep this way? Dr. Surapaneni says a clue is waking up daily with blurry or burning eyes.
The best treatment for dry eye
Everyone’s eyes have the potential to get dry, but there’s a difference between situational eye dryness and dry eye syndrome. “Occasional dryness after a long flight, a late night or a marathon screen day is normal and settles on its own,” explains Dr. Surapaneni. “It becomes dry eye syndrome, which eye doctors call dry eye disease, when the tear film is chronically unstable, the surface is inflamed and symptoms show up most days for months and start interfering with daily life. At that point, it behaves like other chronic conditions: It needs ongoing management, not just an occasional eye drop.”
“Dry eye is treated with a combination of medications, lifestyle changes and procedures,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “Your eye doctor will evaluate the cause and may recommend preservative-free artificial tears or prescription drops to reduce inflammation or increase tear production.”
Depending on the cause, other treatments may include light therapy (IPL) to improve the oil glands in your eyelids or tiny plugs (punctal plugs) that help keep your natural tears from draining away too quickly, Dr. Hilal-Campo adds.
How to treat dry eye symptoms at home
You can also help keep your eyes moisturized right from home. Dr. Surapaneni recommends:
- Applying preservative-free artificial tears on a schedule rather than waiting until you have eye discomfort.
- Placing a warm compress over your eyelids for five to 10 minutes a day to support healthy oil gland flow.
- For every 20 minutes of screen time, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds and take a full blink.
- Running a humidifier in your bedroom and keeping fans and air vents away from your face at night.
The bottom line on dry eye symptoms
Our eyes do so much for us, and dry eye symptoms like grittiness, watering or blurry vision don’t have to be something you just live with. By recognizing when your eyes need a helping hand and giving them the care they deserve, you can support your eye health and comfort for years to come.
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