Dry Eye Syndrome: Causes, Treatments, and Medications That Worsen It
When your eyes feel gritty, burn, or water too much, you might be dealing with dry eye syndrome, a common condition where your eyes don’t make enough tears or the tears evaporate too fast. Also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, it’s not just an annoyance—it can blur your vision, make reading hard, and even damage the surface of your eye if left untreated. This isn’t something that only happens to older people. Even young adults who stare at screens all day, wear contacts, or take certain meds can develop it.
Many everyday medications, including antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, and birth control pills reduce tear production as a side effect. Artificial tears, over-the-counter eye drops that mimic natural tears are the first line of defense, but they don’t fix the root problem. If you’re on long-term meds and your eyes feel dry all the time, it’s not just "getting older"—it could be your drugs. The same goes for conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid disease, which often come with dry eye as a symptom.
What makes dry eye tricky is that it’s not one-size-fits-all. Some people need prescription drops that boost tear production. Others need tiny plugs inserted in their eyelids to keep tears from draining too fast. A few even need changes to their environment—like using a humidifier, taking screen breaks, or avoiding fans blowing directly on their face. And if you’re using eye drops that promise "redness relief," you might be making things worse. Those drops shrink blood vessels temporarily but don’t help your tears.
You won’t find magic cures here—just real, science-backed ways to manage it. Below, you’ll find guides on how to spot which medications are drying out your eyes, how to use eye drops safely, and what to do when over-the-counter fixes stop working. These aren’t generic tips. They come from real patient experiences and clinician-reviewed advice. If your eyes have been bothering you for weeks, it’s time to look beyond the bottle and understand what’s really going on.
