More Common Than You Think
Dry eyes aren't just uncomfortable. Left untreated, they affect how clearly you see.
The tear film is a thin, complex layer that keeps the eye surface smooth, protected, and optically clear. When it breaks down — either because not enough tears are produced, or because they evaporate too quickly — the eye becomes gritty, red, light-sensitive, and paradoxically, sometimes watery.
Screen time, air conditioning, ceiling fans, contact lenses, certain medications, and simply getting older all contribute. In Kerala's climate especially, air-conditioned offices and long driving hours take a quiet toll.
Symptoms
- Gritty or sandy sensation in the eyes
- Burning or stinging
- Redness, especially in the evenings
- Blurred vision that clears momentarily with blinking
- Excessive tearing (the eye overcompensates)
- Discomfort with screen use or reading
How We Treat It
There is no single cure for dry eyes — management is tailored to the cause and severity.
We quantify the severity and type of dry eye by evaluating with a dry eye analyser.
Lubricating Eye Drops — without preservatives are preferred because these drops have to be used long term and preservatives can worsen the dry eye.
Lid Hygiene — Meibomian gland dysfunction (the most common underlying cause) is treated after assessing the amount of drop out.
Punctal Plugs — Tiny dissolvable or semi-permanent plugs inserted into the tear drainage duct to retain moisture on the eye surface in intractable cases.
Systemic work up also done for severe dry eye cases to detect any underlying comorbidities.
Ready to take the next step? Call us — we will help you find the right appointment.
Book a Dry Eye Assessment