Dry, tired, burning, or irritated eyes are easy to dismiss, especially when the symptoms appear after a long day of working on a computer or using a phone. Many people simply use eye drops for a few days and continue with their routine.
But persistent dry-eye symptoms are not always just temporary discomfort.
Dry eye can occur when the eyes do not produce enough tears, when tears evaporate too quickly, or when the tear film does not function properly. Because several different factors can contribute to dry eye, identifying the underlying cause can be more useful than treating the symptom alone.
At Ace Eye Care Clinic, we encourage patients with persistent or recurring dry-eye symptoms to have their eyes evaluated rather than assuming that every case is simply caused by screen time or lack of sleep. Dr. Kyung-hoon Shin approaches dry-eye assessment by considering the patient’s symptoms, daily habits, eye condition, and possible contributing factors before deciding on an appropriate care approach.
Why Does Dry Eye Happen?
The surface of the eye is protected by a thin tear film. This tear film helps keep the eyes comfortable, provides lubrication, and supports a healthy ocular surface.
Dry-eye symptoms can develop when this tear film becomes unstable.
Some common contributing factors include:
- Prolonged computer, tablet, or smartphone use
- Reduced blinking while concentrating on screens
- Air conditioning, fans, or dry environments
- Contact lens use
- Age-related changes in tear production
- Eyelid or meibomian gland problems
- Certain medications
- Previous eye procedures
- Environmental exposure such as dust, smoke, or wind
- Other conditions affecting the ocular surface
This is why two patients can experience very similar symptoms but have different reasons for developing dry eye.
Your Eyes Can Be Dry Even If They Are Watering
One confusing symptom for many patients is excessive watering.
It may seem logical that watery eyes cannot also be dry. However, this can happen.
When the ocular surface becomes irritated, the eyes can sometimes produce reflex tears. These tears may temporarily increase the amount of water on the eye without adequately restoring a stable tear film.
As a result, a patient may experience both dryness and excessive watering.
This is one reason persistent watery eyes should not automatically be assumed to mean that the eyes are producing healthy tears.
What Does Dry Eye Actually Feel Like?
Dry eye does not always feel like simple dryness.
Patients may describe:
- Burning or stinging
- A gritty or sandy sensation
- Redness
- Itching or irritation
- Eye fatigue
- Sensitivity to light
- Intermittent blurred vision
- Difficulty keeping the eyes comfortable while reading
- Discomfort after prolonged screen use
- A feeling that something is inside the eye
- Excessive watering
- Contact lens discomfort
Symptoms can also fluctuate. Some people feel relatively comfortable in the morning and develop significant irritation later in the day.
Others may notice symptoms primarily while working, driving, reading, or using digital devices.
Is Screen Time the Main Cause?
Screens can contribute to dry-eye symptoms, but it is too simple to say that screen use is the only cause.
When people concentrate on a screen, they often blink less frequently or incompletely. This can increase evaporation from the eye surface and make the tear film less stable.
However, if symptoms continue even after reducing screen time, another factor may be involved.
For this reason, patients with persistent symptoms should not automatically assume that they only need to “use their phone less.” An eye examination can help determine whether there are additional factors affecting the ocular surface.
Who Is More Likely to Experience Persistent Dry Eye?
Dry eye can affect people of different ages, but certain situations may increase the likelihood of symptoms.
People who spend many hours on digital devices
Long periods of screen concentration can reduce blinking and increase ocular surface discomfort.
Contact lens users
Contact lenses can sometimes contribute to dryness or discomfort, particularly when worn for extended periods.
People working in air-conditioned environments
Air conditioning and fans can increase evaporation from the eye surface, especially when air is directed toward the face.
Older adults
Changes in tear production and the ocular surface can occur with age, making dry-eye symptoms more common.
People with eyelid or meibomian gland problems
The oil component of the tear film helps reduce evaporation. Problems affecting the meibomian glands can therefore contribute to an unstable tear film.
People with recurring eye irritation
Repeated exposure to smoke, dust, wind, or other environmental factors can aggravate the ocular surface.
The important point is that dry eye is not one single condition with one single cause.
When Should You Stop Treating Dry Eye as Temporary Discomfort?
Occasional dryness after a long day may not necessarily indicate a significant eye problem.
However, it is worth considering an eye evaluation when symptoms:
- Keep returning
- Last for weeks
- Interfere with reading or computer work
- Affect contact-lens comfort
- Cause persistent redness or irritation
- Produce fluctuating or intermittent blurred vision
- Require frequent use of lubricating drops
- Continue despite lifestyle changes
Patients should also seek prompt professional assessment if they experience significant eye pain, sudden changes in vision, marked redness, or other sudden or concerning symptoms.
Why Identifying the Cause Matters
It is common for patients to think of dry-eye care as simply finding an eye drop that makes the eyes feel better.
Artificial tears can provide symptomatic relief for some patients, but persistent symptoms may require a broader evaluation.
For example, one patient may primarily have increased tear evaporation, while another may have reduced tear production or eyelid-related problems. Environmental exposure, contact-lens use, medications, or other ocular-surface factors may also contribute.
Understanding these differences can help an ophthalmologist determine what type of management is appropriate rather than treating every patient in exactly the same way.
What Happens During a Dry Eye Evaluation?
A dry-eye consultation generally begins with understanding the patient’s symptoms and daily routine.
At Ace Eye Care Clinic, the evaluation may consider factors such as:
- When the symptoms started
- Whether symptoms are constant or intermittent
- Screen and digital-device use
- Contact-lens habits
- Environmental exposure
- Previous eye procedures
- Current medications
- Tear-film and ocular-surface condition
- Eyelid and meibomian gland health
- Changes in visual comfort
Depending on the patient’s symptoms and clinical findings, the ophthalmologist may perform additional examinations to better understand the condition of the tear film and ocular surface.
The purpose is not simply to confirm that a patient has “dry eyes,” but to understand why the symptoms are occurring and how they are affecting the eye surface.
How Can Patients Reduce Everyday Dry-Eye Discomfort?
Small changes in daily habits can sometimes make a meaningful difference.
Patients who spend substantial time on screens can consciously blink more frequently and take regular visual breaks. Keeping fans or air-conditioning vents from blowing directly toward the eyes may also reduce evaporation.
Other practical measures may include:
- Taking regular breaks during prolonged screen work
- Avoiding direct airflow toward the face
- Maintaining comfortable indoor humidity when possible
- Following appropriate contact-lens hygiene and wearing schedules
- Avoiding unnecessary eye rubbing
- Staying attentive to recurring symptoms rather than repeatedly ignoring them
These measures are supportive and do not replace an eye examination when symptoms are persistent or significant.
A Patient With Dry Eyes May Not Have the Same Problem as Another Patient
This is an important part of dry-eye care.
A patient who spends eight hours a day in front of a monitor may have a different contributing pattern from someone who wears contact lenses, works in a dusty environment, or has eyelid-related problems.
Similarly, a patient experiencing occasional dryness may require a different approach from someone whose symptoms are affecting daily activities and visual comfort.
Dr. Kyung-hoon Shin considers these individual differences when evaluating patients at Ace Eye Care Clinic. The aim is to understand the patient’s symptoms in the context of their everyday life rather than treating the diagnosis as a one-size-fits-all problem.
What Is the Benefit of Getting Dry Eye Evaluated?
The main benefit of an evaluation is not simply obtaining another bottle of eye drops.
It is gaining a clearer understanding of what may be contributing to the symptoms.
A proper assessment can help patients:
- Understand why their eyes feel uncomfortable
- Identify factors that may be worsening symptoms
- Recognize whether the problem is recurring or persistent
- Receive guidance appropriate to their individual situation
- Avoid assuming that every eye irritation has the same cause
- Protect the comfort and health of the ocular surface
For patients whose symptoms have been repeatedly returning, this information can be more useful than simply treating each episode separately.