Dry eye, a condition that causes discomfort and irritation and can affect vision, has been increasing globally, according to a recent study review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Daniel Sand, MD, an ophthalmologist at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute, has seen this trend among his own patients, particularly since the start of COVID.
“So many people are now working from home, and when they’re staring at their computer screens they’re not blinking as much,” explained Dr. Sand, an associate clinical professor in the Department of Ophthalmology.
Blinking can keep dry eye at bay. It acts like a windshield wiper, he said, covering the eye with soothing lubricant. The more that eyes stay open staring at screens, the drier they can become.
In addition to increased screen time, environmental factors including heat, dry wind, smoke from wildfires and pollution — all of which Southern Californians know well — contribute to dry eye,
“Heat dries out the surface of the eye,” said Dr. Sand. “A patient of mine who traveled to Florida told me his eyes felt so much better there because he was in humidity, and in humid air the eyes do not dry out as much. This is why some people place humidifiers in the area where they sleep or next to their desk.” Dr. Sand cautions, however, that humidifiers must be cleaned regularly.
Drifting ash from wildfires also dries the eyes. Dr. Sand treated patients who lived close to the 2025 Palisades fire who came to him with dry eye.
“A lot of patients had ash on their lids and lashes and didn’t realize it,” he said. “When we see flecks of ash on our cars from a wildfire, that means it’s falling on our bodies, including our eyelashes.”
The same goes for pollution particles, he said.
“We don’t live in the cleanest city, and dust and debris get caught on the eyelashes which act as air filters, the first line of defense against stuff getting inside the eyes,” said Dr. Sand.
Importance of blinking
The constant lubrication provided by blinking is critical for combating all of these causes of dry eye.
“Every time the eye opens and closes, the lid evenly spreads the tear film on the surface,” Dr. Sand said. “The tear film has two major functions — to protect the surface of the eye, and to provide focusing power to the eye.”
A normal blink rate is between 12 and 15 blinks per minute. This rate is greatly reduced the longer a person looks at a digital screen, causing eyes to dry. To offset this, Dr. Sand recommends following the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes step away from the computer screen and stare at an object that is 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This allows your eyes to relax.
The tear film also protects the eyes from debris, but cleaning the eyelids and lashes with commercial wipes or with warm water and baby shampoo also can help keep the eyes clean and comfortable, Dr. Sand said.
Dr. Sand recommends that people wash their eyelids and lashes twice a day to wipe away debris. He compares the practice to washing your hair — if you don’t do it often, the scalp becomes itchy and uncomfortable.
“If you don’t clean your lids and lashes you can get irritation, burning and redness,” he said.
Infection is a risk of dry eyes. “In the lid margins, the very small oil glands secrete oil onto the surface of the eye,” Dr. Sand explained. “When these oil glands get plugged, and the oil doesn’t flow, bacteria can cause infection. This is what we call a stye.”
Frequently applying warm compresses to the eyes allows the oil to flow and prevents the tear film from evaporating.
Other causes
The predicted rains from El Niño this winter could bring a super bloom next spring with high pollen counts, and a long season of itchy eyes for people with allergies — another contributor to dry eye.
“Allergens sit on lids and lashes, marinating there, making the eyes feel uncomfortable,” said Dr. Sand.
Pet owners, particularly those who allow their cats or dogs to sleep in their beds, run the risk of allergies too. In these cases, Dr. Sand recommends using air filters in the bedroom and regularly cleaning the eyes.
Aging is also associated with an increase in dry eye, due to a lessening of tear production and the side effects of certain medications.
Treatments and prevention
Among the many treatments for dry eye are commercial eyedrops, called artificial tears, which can be purchased without a prescription, and tiny plugs that block tear drainage and allow tear film to remain longer on the eye surface. Called punctal plugs, they are inserted by an ophthalmologist during an office visit.
Prevention measures to avoid dry eye include wearing wrap-around sunglasses to protect eyes from hot, dry wind; applying warm eye compresses; taking breaks from screen time; and reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption, both of which are dehydrating, said Dr. Sand.
Caring for the eyes is not just about preventing dryness and maintaining comfort. It’s also about preserving vision.
Tear film helps the eyes focus, which means when it dries on the surface of the eye a person’s vision can fluctuate and become blurred. Doing all you can to maintain tear film is especially important for anyone considering eye surgery, such as cataract surgery, or procedures that decrease the dependence on glasses, including refractive surgeries such as LASIK or PRK.
