“How I Knew I Had Dry Eye”: One Patient’s Story of Frustrating Symptoms—with Simple Fixes

Dry eye disease affects around 344 million people worldwide, according to data shared by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). This common condition occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when those tears evaporate too quickly due to poor quality. Tears are made up of more than just water—they also contain oil and mucus, which work together to keep the surface of the eye smooth, lubricated, and protected. When that balance is disrupted, it can lead to persistent irritation, blurred vision, and damage to the eye’s surface over time. Our environment and use of tech may be among the major contributing factors and reasons for what the AAO says is a growing prevalence of the condition.

“If a patient has dry eye disease, they will suffer from constant foreign body sensation,” says Kanwal Singh, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist at University of Iowa Health Care. In other words, “Something feels like it is in my eye all the time, Doc!” is a common concern Dr. Singh hears from patients—and one that Heather Smith, a 52-year-old woman from South Florida, experienced, similar to 20 million other Americans also living with dry eye.

The National Eye Institute explains that dry eye disease can affect people of all ages, but it’s especially common in women over 50, often due to hormonal changes during and after menopause. Other risk factors include autoimmune conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, certain medications (such as antihistamines and antidepressants), long-term contact lens use, past eye surgeries like LASIK, and lifestyle habits such as smoking or excessive screen time. Environmental factors like dry indoor air, wind, or constant exposure to air conditioning can also make symptoms worse.

If your eyes frequently feel gritty, dry, or irritated—and over-the-counter lubricating drops only offer temporary relief—it may be more than just screen fatigue. In many cases, these symptoms signal dry eye disease, a condition that’s manageable once properly diagnosed.

Ahead, Heather shares her journey of understanding her dry eye symptoms and finding long-term solutions.

How I Knew I Had Dry Eye Disease

By Heather Smith, as told to Dr. Patricia Varacallo, DO

For years, I figured my eyes just felt tired from too much screen time—it comes with the territory of my job. I spend eight to ten hours a day in front of a computer, not even counting my phone use after hours. I dealt with blurry vision, eye fatigue, and occasional stinging. By the end of the workday, my eyes would feel gritty, and my vision would blur slightly, especially when reading through long documents. I kept seeing ads for blue light glasses and even gave them a try, but they didn’t help. To be honest, I wasn’t sleeping well either. Between job stress and the hormonal changes of entering menopause, rest wasn’t exactly easy to come by.

I remember thinking, I must need a new glasses prescription. Truthfully, I hadn’t been to my eye doctor in a few years and assumed I’d walk out with stronger lenses. Instead, I walked out with a dry eye diagnosis.

My dry eye disease diagnosis

At my appointment approximately six months ago, my eye doctor ran a few tests. She used a dye to monitor how quickly my tears were evaporating and measured how much moisture my eyes were actually producing.

The results showed I wasn’t making enough high-quality tears, and the ones I did produce were evaporating too fast to properly protect my eyes. She explained that it was likely a mix of factors—hormonal changes, long hours of screen time, and even the antidepressant I’d been taking for years, which I’d never realized could affect my eyes.

Hormonal fluctuations, especially during menopause, can disrupt the balance of the tear film by reducing oil production in the glands around the eyes. Without that oil layer, tears evaporate more quickly. And daily screen use (especially when you’re not blinking enough) just adds fuel to the fire.

Treating my dry eye symptoms

We started with a basic treatment plan: preservative-free artificial tears, applied four to six times a day, plus a warm compress and lid massage every evening.

I also bought a humidifier for my office and started using it religiously.

These small changes helped, but my symptoms didn’t fully improve until I added prescription drops (specifically cyclosporine) a few weeks later. My doctor explained these drops work by reducing inflammation in the tear glands and encouraging better tear production. It took about a month to really notice the difference, but once I did, it felt like night and day.

Later, we also tried punctal plugs, which are tiny devices placed in the corners of my eyelids to help keep tears from draining too quickly. I was surprised at how fast and painless the procedure was, and it really boosted the effectiveness of the drops I was already using.

She also mentioned other treatment options, like heat therapies or intense pulsed light therapy, if needed down the line, but for now, our plan was working.

My doctor and I also discussed lifestyle changes. She encouraged me to take more breaks during the workday—following the 20-20-20 rule (look 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes)—and to be more mindful about blinking when I’m on the computer.

How my dry eye symptoms are doing today

Today, I still manage my dry eye disease every day, but it’s no longer a problem. I stick to my eye drop routine, use warm compresses several times a week, and take omega-3 supplements on my doctor’s recommendation. I’ve also changed a few habits, making sure I take regular screen break because it causes so much strain on my eyes.

If there’s one thing I’d tell others, it’s that you don’t have to live with chronic eye discomfort. For the longest time, I thought my dry eye symptoms were just a normal part of aging or work life that I needed to accept. But once I got a proper diagnosis and the right treatment, I felt relief I didn’t even know was possible.

Talk to your eye doctor—or find one if you haven’t already—so you can get the care and comfort you deserve.

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