Common causes of dry eyes include tear-film issues, screen use, dry weather, aging, medications, contact lenses, and health conditions that affect the eye’s surface. In Arizona and the Southwest, dry eye symptoms can feel even more noticeable because wind, sun, dust, air conditioning, and low humidity can make tears evaporate faster.
Dry eye does not always feel like simple dryness. Your eyes may burn, sting, water, itch, feel gritty, look red, or blur during reading, driving, or screen time. Some people also notice light sensitivity, tired eyes, or contact lens discomfort. At Southwestern Eye Center, your eye doctor can evaluate the surface of your eyes, identify what is disrupting your tear film, and recommend a treatment plan that fits the cause of your symptoms.
Why Dry Eye Happens
Your tears do more than keep your eyes wet. A healthy tear film helps protect the eye’s surface, wash away irritants, support clear vision, and reduce friction every time you blink.
The tear film has three main parts: an oil layer, a watery layer, and a mucus layer. When one part becomes unstable, tears may evaporate too quickly, spread unevenly, or fail to provide enough lubrication. That instability can lead to dry eye symptoms even when your eyes are still making tears.
This is why watery eyes can still be dry eyes. When the surface of your eye becomes irritated, your eyes may produce reflex tears. Those tears may run down your face, but they often do not restore the balanced tear film your eyes need for lasting comfort.
Common Causes of Dry Eyes
The common causes of dry eyes often overlap. One patient may have dryness from screen use and Arizona’s climate, while another may have blocked oil glands, medication-related dryness, or an autoimmune condition.
| Cause | How It Can Affect Your Eyes |
|---|---|
| Dry climate, wind, and sun | Tears evaporate faster in dry, windy, or bright conditions. |
| Screen use | People blink less often when using computers, phones, and tablets. |
| Aging and hormonal changes | Tear production and tear quality can change over time. |
| Meibomian gland dysfunction | Blocked eyelid oil glands can make tears evaporate too quickly. |
| Medications | Some allergies, blood pressure, depression, and sleep medications may contribute. |
| Contact lens wear | Lenses can worsen dryness, irritation, and fluctuating vision. |
| Allergies and inflammation | Itching, redness, and rubbing can irritate the ocular surface. |
| Autoimmune or medical conditions | Sjögren’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, and diabetes may play a role. |
Long-term dry eye can also develop after certain eye procedures or during recovery from eye surgery. If your dryness appears after surgery, starts suddenly, or feels worse than expected, schedule an exam rather than relying only on over-the-counter drops.
Dry Eye Symptoms Can Affect Vision
Dry eye can make vision fluctuate throughout the day. You may notice that words blur while reading, screens become harder to focus on, or distance vision clears briefly after blinking and then softens again. This happens because the tear film helps create a smooth optical surface.
Dry eye is also a reason patients may squint or experience eye strain. If your vision changes, do not assume it is only dryness. Blurry vision can also come from prescription changes, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes-related eye disease, retina concerns, or other conditions. Southwestern Eye Center’s guide to common causes of blurry vision can help explain when blurry vision warrants a closer look.
If you rub your eyes because they feel gritty or itchy, try to break that habit. Frequent eye rubbing can spread germs and irritate the cornea. Instead, use preservative-free artificial tears, apply a cool compress for allergy-related itching, or schedule an exam if symptoms keep coming back. You can also learn more in the Southwestern Eye Center’s blog on why rubbing your eyes can harm your vision.
How Southwestern Eye Center Diagnoses Dry Eye
A dry eye evaluation starts with your symptoms, health history, medications, environment, contact lens use, and daily habits. Your provider may examine your eyelids, lashes, tear film, cornea, and conjunctiva to look for inflammation, blocked oil glands, poor tear quality, or signs of ocular surface disease.
Your doctor may also consider whether your symptoms are connected to allergies, eyelid inflammation (blepharitis), autoimmune conditions, previous surgery, or digital eye strain. This matters because dry eye treatment works best when it targets the cause rather than only covering symptoms for a few minutes.
If your symptoms include vision changes, your doctor may recommend a routine or comprehensive eye exam to evaluate your prescription and overall eye health.
Dry Eye Treatment Options in Arizona
Persistent dry eye may need more targeted care. Southwestern Eye Center offers dry eye treatment for patients with symptoms such as burning, grittiness, redness, watery eyes, fluctuating blur, eye fatigue, light sensitivity, wind sensitivity, and contact lens intolerance.
Depending on the cause, treatment may include prescription eye drops, eyelid hygiene, treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction, or advanced in-office therapies. Southwestern Eye Center’s dry eye services include Intense Pulsed Light therapy and Radiofrequency therapy for certain patients, especially when inflammation or blocked oil glands contribute to symptoms. Availability may vary by location and diagnosis.
When to Schedule a Dry Eye Evaluation
Occasional dryness after a windy day or long screen session may improve with basic care. But frequent symptoms warrant an exam, especially when over-the-counter drops only provide temporary relief.
Schedule a dry eye evaluation if burning, stinging, watering, redness, gritty eyes, blurry vision, or contact lens discomfort keep coming back. You should also schedule care if dryness affects reading, driving, computer work, outdoor activities, or sleep.
Seek prompt care for eye pain, sudden vision changes, significant light sensitivity, thick discharge, an eye injury, severe redness, or symptoms related to contact lens use.
Southwestern Eye Center provides dry eye evaluations and eye care for patients across Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Sun City, Casa Grande, Yuma, Sierra Vista, Cottonwood, and nearby communities. Schedule an appointment to find out what is causing your symptoms and which treatment options may help your eyes feel more comfortable.