Dry Eye Awareness Month: What You Need to Know About Dry Eyes

Itchy, gritty, watery, or tired eyes? You’re not imagining it — you could be experiencing Dry Eye Disease (DED), a common condition that affects millions of people and often goes undiagnosed.

So, what is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry Eye Disease occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough quality tears to stay properly lubricated. This can lead to discomfort, blurred vision, and inflammation. Some people notice stinging or burning; others are surprised to find that their eyes water too much — a sign that your eyes are trying to compensate for dryness.

Dry eye can range from mildly annoying to severely disruptive, especially if left untreated.

Why does it happen?

There are three main reasons your tears may not be doing their job:

  1. Not enough tears
    Ageing, certain medications, or medical conditions can reduce tear production.

  2. Poor quality tears
    Your tears are made of oil, water, and mucus. If that balance is off — often due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) — your tears evaporate too quickly.

  3. Tears evaporate too fast
    Factors like screen use, windy environments, or wearing contact lenses can make tears dry up faster than they should.

Common Symptoms of Dry Eyes

  • Grittiness or a sandy feeling
  • Stinging or burning
  • Blurred or fluctuating vision
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Eye redness or watering
  • Tired eyes, especially at the end of the day

Who’s at Risk?

Dry eye is more common in:

  • People over 40
  • Contact lens wearers
  • Those who spend lots of time on screens
  • People with autoimmune conditions (e.g. Sjögren’s syndrome)
  • Women (especially during hormonal changes like menopause)

But really — anyone can experience it.

How to Manage Dry Eye

At Bright, we believe small changes at home can make a big difference. Here’s how to support your eyes daily:

💧 Use preservative-free lubricating eye drops to hydrate and protect

🛁 Cleanse your eyelids and lashes to reduce inflammation and bacteria

👁️ Swap to eye friendly make up formulas research is pointing to many common ingredients in make up having negative effects on the health of the eyes 

🥑 Eat omega-3 rich foods (like salmon or flaxseed) to support healthy tear film

💤 Get quality sleep — poor sleep can impact our tears

💧 Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water

📵 Take regular breaks from screens (20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds)

Not sure where to start?

Everyone’s eyes are different. Visit a good optometrist or ophthalmologist with an interest or speciality in Dry Eye. Whether you're dealing with occasional dryness or more persistent irritation, we’re also here to help you see — and feel — brighter. Feel free to reach out and we're happy to point you in the direction of someone who can help

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