Managing Dry Eyes From Screen Time

If your eyes feel dry, irritated, gritty, or tired after a long day on a computer or phone, you’re not alone. Increased screen time has made dry eye symptoms more common than ever, affecting people of all ages. Understanding why screens contribute to dry eyes and knowing when it’s time to see your eye doctor can help protect your comfort, vision, and long-term eye health.

Why Screen Time Causes Dry Eyes

When you focus on digital screens, your natural blinking rate decreases significantly, which can have a direct impact on eye comfort. Blinking plays a vital role in spreading tears evenly across the surface of the eye to keep it lubricated and healthy. When blinking is reduced, tears evaporate more quickly, leading to dryness and irritation.

Prolonged screen use can also disrupt tear quality and stability, increase eye strain and fatigue, and worsen existing dry eye conditions. Over time, these effects may progress from occasional discomfort to chronic dry eye disease.

The Role of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

One of the most common underlying causes of screen-related dry eye is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). The meibomian glands, located along the eyelids, produce the oil layer of your tears. This oil prevents tears from evaporating too quickly.

With prolonged screen use, poor blinking habits, inflammation, or aging, these glands can become blocked or underperform. When that happens, even if your eyes make enough tears, they may evaporate too fast-leading to burning, redness, blurry vision, and irritation that worsens throughout the day.

At-Home Tips to Reduce Screen-Related Dryness

While lifestyle changes won’t cure dry eye disease, they can help reduce symptoms:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds

• Blink more intentionally, especially during focused screen tasks

• Adjust screen height so your eyes are slightly looking downward

• Use artificial tears as recommended by your eye doctor

• Reduce air flow from fans or vents near your face

If symptoms persist despite these changes, it may be time for a deeper evaluation.

When to See Your Eye Doctor

You should consider scheduling an eye exam if dryness or irritation lasts more than a few weeks, your eyes burn, sting, or feel gritty on a daily basis, or your vision becomes blurry during or after screen use. If artificial tears no longer provide relief or your symptoms worsen later in the day, it may be a sign of an underlying dry eye condition that requires professional care. Our eye doctor can evaluate your symptoms to determine whether Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) or another form of dry eye disease is present and recommend personalized treatment options.

For patients with MGD or chronic dry eye, advanced in-office treatments can make a meaningful difference in comfort and eye health. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy helps reduce inflammation around the eyelids while improving meibomian gland function, addressing the root cause of gland blockage for longer-lasting relief. Radiofrequency (RF) therapy uses gentle, controlled heat to warm the eyelids, helping to liquefy blocked oils and support healthier tear production.

Take the Next Step at Eyewear Society

Dry eyes from screen time aren’t just an inconvenience - they’re often a signal that your eyes need attention. While simple habits can help reduce strain, ongoing dryness may point to underlying conditions like Meibomian Gland Dysfunction that require professional care.

If screen time is leaving your eyes dry, irritated, or uncomfortable, Eyewear Society is here to help. Schedule a dry eye evaluation to discover personalized solutions designed to restore comfort and protect your vision. Visit our office in Covington, Louisiana, or call (985) 893-2722 to book an appointment today.