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DRY EYE SYNDROME
Causes and symptoms
What is it?
Dry eye syndrome is a disorder of the tear film due to tear
deficiency or excessive evaporation, which causes the eyes
to become dry, inflamed and uncomfortable and damages
the ocular surface. There are two main causes of dry eye:
firstly a condition in which the eyes can’t make enough
tears, sometimes called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and
secondly where the tears evaporate too quickly. The most
common cause of excessive tear evaporation is blockage and
PATIENTS - FACT SHEET
eye syndrome has caused visual impairment and scarring of
the eye’s surface. You should therefore visit your GP as soon
as possible if you have any of the following:
• Extreme sensitivity to light
• Extremely red eyes
• Eyes that are very painful
• Deterioration of vision
dysfunction of the Meibomian oil glands in the eyelids, which
What causes it?
is also known as posterior blepharitis.
Dry eye syndrome can be caused or made worse by
many things, including your environment, illnesses,
Who gets it?
Dry eye syndrome is a common condition, with up to a third of
people experiencing it at some point in their life. While anyone
can develop dry eye syndrome, it is most common in people
over the age of 60. The condition is also more common in
women than men.
What are the symptoms?
side-effects of medicines, hormonal changes and
simply getting older. In many cases there isn’t one
single, identifiable cause – it’s often a mixture of things
associated with tear production.
Aqueous tear production is regulated by the lacrimal functional
unit of the eye. Tear evaporation is prevented by healthy
Meibomian oil gland secretion in the tear film. If any part of this
unit doesn’t work properly, the whole system can break down,
The symptoms of dry eye syndrome can be mild, moderate or
resulting in dry eye syndrome due to one or both of
severe and may include: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca:
the following:
• Feelings of dryness, grittiness or soreness in both
• The eyes cannot produce enough tears
eyes, which get worse as the day goes on
• Tears evaporate quickly and the tear film is not
• Redness of the eyes
maintained for longer than a few seconds in
• Watery eyes, particularly when exposed to
between blinks.
wind Blepharitis
• Eyelids stuck together on waking up
As you can see below, lots of things can affect tear
• Eyes feel worst first thing in the morning
production and evaporation. .
• Burning feeling in eyelids, or itchy eyelids,
red rims of eyelids
Environment
A wide range of environmental factors can have a drying
Is it serious?
Dry eye syndrome is normally not serious. There are
some rare cases, however, where severe untreated dry
effect on the eyes, causing tears to evaporate too quickly.
These include:
• Sun
• Wind
• Dry climate
Other medical conditions that can cause dry eye
• Central heating
syndrome in some people include:
• Warm blowing air
• Atopic eczema
• High altitude
• Conjunctivitis
Occupation
Dry eye syndrome can also be caused by the following
People tend to blink less often when carrying out
less common conditions:
activities that require visual concentration, such as
• Sjögren’s syndrome
reading, writing or working with a computer. This can
• Rheumatoid arthritis
cause tears to evaporate faster than usual, leading
• Lupus
to dry eyes.
• Scleroderma
• Previous trauma such as burns or exposure
Laser surgery
to radiation
Many people experience dry eye syndrome after
• Shingles
laser-assisted in-situ keratomileuis (LASIK) surgery,
• Bell’s palsy
a procedure used to correct eyesight problems.
However, these dry eye symptoms usually resolve
Medicines
after 6 - 9 months.
Several types of medicine are thought to cause dry eye
syndrome in some people. These include:
Contact lenses
• Antihistamines
Contact lenses can irritate the eye and cause dry eye
• Antidepressants
syndrome in some people, partly due to decreased corneal
• Beta-blockers*
sensitivity affecting the lacrimal functional unit. Changing to
• Diuretics*
a different type of lens which has a lower water content, and
*Often used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
using preservative-free lubricants, can help to resolve the
symptoms.
Ageing
We naturally produce fewer tears as we get older. This,
Menopause
combined with the effects of the menopause, probably
The hormonal changes that occur during the
explains why dry eye syndrome is particularly common
menopause can lead to a reduction in tear production,
among older women.
resulting in dry eye syndrome.
Effective treatments are available. See our other
fact sheet ‘Dry Eye Syndrome - Diagnosis and
Medical conditions
treatment’ for more information.
One of the most common causes of dry eye syndrome is
blepharitis, which is inflammation of the rims of the
Consult your doctor or optometrist if you think you may need
eyelids. Blepharitis is associated with blockage of the
treatment for dry eye syndrome.
Meibomian oil glands, which causes excessive tear
evaporation. Blepharitis is commonly associated with:
Further information can be found in our fact sheet
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis
‘Dry Eye Syndrome – Causes and Symptoms’.
• Rosacea