Dry eye: irritated, burning, or watery eyes are treatable
Dry eye is one of the most common conditions we treat — and one of the most under-treated, because so many people assume scratchy, tired, unpredictable eyes are just something to live with. They aren't.
What dry eye feels like
Burning, stinging, or a gritty "sand in the eye" feeling
Eyes that tire quickly with reading or screens
Vision that blurs, then clears when you blink
Redness, or trouble wearing contact lenses comfortably
And, counterintuitively — watery eyes. When the eye's surface is dry and irritated, it floods itself with reflex tears that don't lubricate well. Constant watering is often dry eye in disguise.
What causes it
Dry eye happens when your eyes don't make enough tears, or — far more commonly — when the tears they make evaporate too quickly because the oil glands in the eyelids aren't doing their job. It becomes more common with age, and is aggravated by screen time (we blink far less at screens), certain medications, hormonal changes, autoimmune conditions, and dry indoor air.
How we diagnose it
Dry eye is a medical condition with several different causes, and the treatment depends on which one you have. During a dry eye evaluation, Dr. Barley examines your tear film and the surface of your eyes under magnification, assesses the oil glands in your eyelids, and looks for the patterns that distinguish low tear production from rapid tear evaporation.
Because dry eye is a medical condition, its evaluation and treatment are billed to your medical insurance — not a vision plan. More on that on our insurance page.
How we treat it
Treatment is a ladder, matched to the cause and severity:
The right artificial tears, used the right way. Not all drops are alike — some common "get the red out" drops make dry eye worse. We'll recommend specific products and how often to use them.
Eyelid care — warm compresses and lid hygiene to restore the oil glands that keep tears from evaporating.
Prescription treatments — anti-inflammatory eye drops that treat the underlying cause rather than just adding moisture.
Punctal plugs — tiny, painless inserts that slow tear drainage so your natural tears stay on the eye longer.
Lifestyle and environment adjustments — screen habits, humidity, omega-3s, and medication review with your physician.
When to come in
If your eyes are uncomfortable more days than not, if drops from the drugstore aren't lasting, or if watering, burning, or fluctuating vision is interfering with reading, driving, or screen work — that's the time. Dry eye tends to worsen slowly, and earlier treatment is simpler treatment.