What Causes Chronic Dry Eye?

Chronic Dry Eye Is More Than Occasional Irritation

Dry eyes can happen after a long day on screens, exposure to wind, or not drinking enough water. Chronic dry eye is different. It tends to come back often or linger, leaving your eyes feeling irritated, gritty, watery, tired, or sensitive to light.
 

At Annandale EyeCare, we often see patients who assume dry eye is just a minor annoyance. In many cases, the symptoms are connected to tear film imbalance, eyelid inflammation, or other eye health factors that need a closer look.
 

Your Tear Film May Be Out Of Balance

A healthy tear film has three important layers: oil, water, and mucus. These layers work together to keep the surface of the eye smooth, clear, and comfortable. When one part of the tear film is not working properly, tears may evaporate too quickly or fail to spread evenly across the eye.
 

This can lead to dryness, burning, fluctuating vision, and the feeling that something is stuck in your eye. Even watery eyes can be a sign of dry eye, because the eyes may overproduce reflex tears in response to irritation.
 

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Is A Common Cause

One of the most common causes of chronic dry eye is meibomian gland dysfunction, often called MGD. The meibomian glands are tiny oil glands along the eyelids. They help produce the oil layer of the tears, which slows evaporation and keeps the eyes comfortable.
 

When these glands become blocked or do not produce healthy oil, tears can evaporate too quickly. This is why some patients continue to have dry eye symptoms even when they use artificial tears.
 

Everyday Triggers Can Make Symptoms Worse

Chronic dry eye can be influenced by your environment, habits, health, and lifestyle. Some common contributors include:

• Long periods of screen use with reduced blinking
• Dry indoor air, fans, heating, or air conditioning
• Allergies or seasonal irritation
• Contact lens wear
• Certain medications
• Hormonal changes
• Inflammation along the eyelids
• Aging or underlying health conditions

Because there are so many possible causes, the right treatment depends on identifying what is actually affecting your eyes.
 

Dry Eye Can Affect Your Vision And Daily Comfort

Dry eye is not only about discomfort. When the tear film is unstable, it can affect the way light enters the eye. This may cause blurry vision, glare, eye fatigue, or vision that seems to clear after blinking.
 

Patients may notice symptoms while reading, working on a computer, driving at night, or wearing contact lenses. Over time, untreated dry eye can make the surface of the eye more irritated and more difficult to manage.
 

Why A Dry Eye Evaluation Is Important

A comprehensive eye exam allows us to look closely at the eye surface, eyelids, tear film, and overall eye health. Rather than guessing at the cause, we evaluate your symptoms and determine whether your dry eye is related to evaporation, inflammation, gland function, tear production, or another factor.
 

From there, we can recommend a personalized plan. This may include changes to your routine, prescription eye drops, lid hygiene, contact lens adjustments, or in-office treatment options depending on your needs.
 

Get Help For Chronic Dry Eye

If your eyes often feel dry, irritated, watery, gritty, or tired, contact Annandale EyeCare in Annandale, VA by calling (703) 941-4111 to schedule an eye exam at 7630 Little River Turnpike, Suite 100, Annandale, VA 22003.