Tired, hot and sore: do these sound like your eyes after a long day in front of the computer?
Call it a symptom of 21st century life, but cases of dry eyes are on the up, exacerbated by long spells in front of a screen, be it a computer, your handset or in front of the box all weekend.
Most people blink around 15 times a minute, but if you’re staring at one spot for a prolonged period, your blink rate grinds to a halt, leaving the ocular surface exposed. If this happens over a long time, it can lead to a condition called - you guessed it - dry eyes.
According to the NHS, you’re more likely to develop dry eyes if you’re a contact lens-wearer, are exposed to air-con or central heating for extended periods, or spend your working day staring at a screen without giving your eyes a proper break - so don’t skip that tea break.
Boots Opticians warns that while complications from dry eye are rare, they could include conjunctivitis, keratitis or ulcers.
With contact lens-wearers among those most at-risk of dry eyes, we spoke to the experts to tell us more about the condition, and how to help soothe your eyes.
What are the main causes of dry eyes?
Tina Patel, Optician at Feel Good Contacts, explains that dry eyes are “usually a result of the eyes either not producing enough tears or tears evaporating too quickly. The condition can come and go, but for some it is an ongoing problem.”
While some cases can be a one-off, the condition can become chronic thanks to “excessive screen use without regular breaks, hormonal changes and the natural ageing process,” Patel adds.
Then there are environmental factors like air conditioning, heating, windy or dusty environments. If you’re on certain medication like antihistamines, antidepressants or other common medicines, dry eyes can be an unexpected consequence. Patel notes that pre-existing conditions like meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis or autoimmune response like Sjögren’s syndrome can also be the cause of newly dry eyes.
What are the risks if left unchecked?
Things can go from a molehill to a mountain, warns Nimmi Mistry, a contact lens optician with Vision Direct. “If left unchecked, dryness can cause symptoms that vary from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include irritation, burning and foreign body sensation and watery eyes (as a result of the outer surface being so dry, tears cannot be retained on the surface). As the dryness progresses, blurred vision and discomfort presents as symptoms. In severe cases, ulcerations and infections of the cornea may present, hindering sight.”
How can you solve dry eyes at home?
The good news is that, once you suspect you have dry eyes, quick action can reverse the condition. Both Patel and Mistry advocate using a warm compress up to twice a day to clear debris from the eyes and encourage the eye's oil-producing glands to open and lubricate the eye's delicate surface.
Mistry adds another tip: "Gently massaging the lower eyelids can assist in further opening the glands and help in oil flow and production." She also recommends upping your diet with Omega 3-rich food, like oily fish, walnuts and vegetable oil.
Meanwhile, Patel advises following "the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes look into the distance and focus on something 20 feet away and make an extra effort to blink for 20 seconds."
Eye drops are an early course of treatment to soothe tired and dry eyes, with plenty of over-the-counter options ready to serve as a remedy.
Best eye drops for dry eyes at a glance
- Best for first-time dry eye or mild symptoms: Hycosan Extra Preservative Free Eye Drops - £12, Boots
- Best for overnight repair: Optrex Night Restore Gel Eye Drops, 10ml - £9.40, Asda
- Best for multi-level moisture: Systane Complete Lubricating Eye Drops for Dry Eyes 10ml - £10.49, Amazon
- Best for subscription purchase: MTHK Eye Drops for Dry Eyes - £15.99, MTHK
- Best for allergies: Optase Allergy Eye Drops - £12.95, Amazon
- Best for shift work: Blink Intensive Tears Eye Drops 10ml - £4.99, Boots
- Best for post-surgery: The Eye Doctor Intensive Relief Eye Drops 10ml - £14.99, Boots
- Best for older dry eye sufferers: Thealoz Duo Eye Drops - £11.99, Amazon
- Best for optician recommended: Hycosan & Optase Dry Eye Kit - £27.50, Feel Good Contacts
- Best for before bed: Hycosan Night Eye Ointment - £8.20, Boots
But with so many on the shelf, it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees. That’s why we’ve collated a list of the best options available to give your peepers quick relief.
Shop the best eye drops for dry eyes below
Hycosan Extra Preservative Free Eye Drops - 7.5ml
Best for: first-time dry eye or mild symptoms
When your eyes are short of moisture, it’s time to reach for artificial tears. Hycosan makes a range of eye drops to get your peepers back to their sparkling best.
The Extra formulation contains 0.2 per cent hyaluronic acid which means it will cling to the ocular surface for longer - ideal for severe cases of dry eyes.
Apply regularly for best results and keep at room temperature, binning it after six months for hygiene safety. Contact lens compatible.
Shop the full Hycosan range at Boots.
Buy now £12.00, Boots
Optrex Night Restore Gel Eye Drops, 10ml
Best for: overnight repair
Acting like a rich night cream, Optrex’s eye drops are some of the best we’ve tried. The night version is ideal for dry and irritated peepers, containing 0.4 per cent sodium hyaluronate to restore moisture and help repair the ocular surface while you sleep. The thicker gel viscosity means you may experience slightly blurred vision, which is why they’re for pre-bedtimes only.
Keep them on your bedside table and make them part of your nightly routine, applying a few drops after you’ve removed your glasses or lenses if you wear them. You’ll find yourself waking up to refreshed, hydrated eyes come the morning.
Buy now £9.40, Asda
Systane Complete Lubricating Eye Drops for Dry Eyes 10ml
Best for: multi-level moisture
For deeply penetrating moisture, look to Systane, the maker of these lubricating eye drops to ward off dry eyes. The formula is made up of nano-sized droplets that, once dispersed, connect across the entire eye surface to provide almost instantaneous relief. As well as making your eyes comfortable again, they’re better hydrated and offer heightened protection over tear evaporation. Shake before using and apply to the bottom or corners of eyes, blinking a few times to ensure it spreads across the ocular surface.
Buy now £10.49, Amazon
MTHK Eye Drops for Dry Eyes
Best for: subscription purchase
For those with blurred vision paired with dry, itchy or red eyes, this 10ml bottle could prove the perfect tonic.
The preservative-free formula is reinforced with 0.3 per cent hyaluronic acid, famous for its hydrating properties, and can be paired with other drops including the prescription variety.
Developed by Moorfields Eye Hospital specialists, expect eight hours of relief from the first drops, even if you apply while wearing hard or soft contact lenses. It has a six month shelf life, and can be bought on subscription so that you're never without.
Buy now £15.99, MTHK
Optase Allergy Eye Drops
Best for: allergies
Screens are only partially responsible for dry eyes; allergies and hayfever can be culprits too. Formulated for inflamed eyes triggered by high pollen, dust and other nasty stuff, Optase offers these eye drops.
Each dose comes in its own sealed pipet, making them perfect to stuff into your bag for dog walks and days out as well as packing for holidays abroad. They’re suitable for contact lense wearers as well as small children aged one year and up.
The star ingredient is Ectoin, a molecule derived from micro-organisms that flourish in dry and harsh environments. Packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, the drops offer relief to tired, gritty and hot eyes.
Buy now £12.95, Amazon
Blink Intensive Tears Eye Drops 10ml
Best for: shift work
Promising long-lasting relief for moderate to very dry-feeling eyes, Blink’s formula offers instant soothing results, leaving your ocular surface feeling fresher and brighter. It’s good for shift workers such as front-line staff as well as 9-to-5ers who are parked in front of their screen all day. The bottle is small enough to keep with you on the go, topping up your eye’s natural hydration as and when needed.
Most promising review? “I have tried so many products as I have dry eyes and none seem to be right. I recently asked an ophthalmologist for a recommendation and this is her suggestion. So far I am so pleased with the results.”
Contact lense compatible. Find a milder version at Boots here (£3.99).
Buy now £4.99, Boots
The Eye Doctor Intensive Relief Eye Drops 10ml
Best for: post-surgery
Laser eye surgery can leave you with sore, tired eyes after treatment. The Eye Doctor’s Intensive Relief Eye Drops can soothe severe cases, as well as persistent conditions. The solution contains 0.3 per cent sodium hyaluronate to flood the eyes with moisture, and can be used with hard or soft contact lenses to make them more comfortable to wear. Apply up to four times a day to help heal dry eyes.
Buy now £14.99, Boots
Thealoz Duo Eye Drops
Best for: older dry eye sufferers
When your eyes feel so tired you just want to dunk them into a bowl of ice, try these eye drops first. Ideal for users of all ages, but especially the over-50s who may suffer more from dry eyes, the trehalose, sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid solution offers advanced soothing for sore peepers. The additive-free drops not only offer fast relief, but they help to heal dry eyes so you may find you'll need the bottle less with continued use.
Six month shelf life.
Buy now £11.99, Amazon
Hycosan & Optase Dry Eye Kit
Best for: optician recommended
As recommended by Feel Good Contacts' optician Tina Patel, this all-in-one kit is a collab between two eyecare heavyweights. The box includes a reusable eye mask, biodegradable wipes for keeping eyelids clean, and a bottle of Hycosan's Extra Eye Drops for fast-acting relief of dry eyes. Used in tandem, you should see and feel conditions improving from first application.
Buy now £27.50, Feel Good Contacts
Hycosan Night Eye Ointment - 5g
Best for: before bed
If you find drops tricky to apply, this ointment could be the answer instead. The slim 5g tube squeezes out the thick gel formula, which you can apply to your inner waterline, blinking to spread it all over your ocular surface. The preservative-free fomula acts like a balm to soothe tired and dry eyes while you sleep and is enriched with vitamin A (reducing the risk of macular degeneration, vision loss and soothing inflammation) to give peepers an extra boost.
Buy now £8.20, Boots
Verdict
Offering quick relief, Hycosan is a good first call if you’re experiencing dry eyes. Graduate to stronger formulas if the issue persists or if eyes feel especially tired and sore.
