Madhu Dutta • March 27, 2026

Understanding Dry Eye Disease Causes: A Guide by Perspective Eye Care

At Perspective Eye Care, our caring team of optometrists and eye care specialists are committed to helping you see and feel your best — because healthy vision starts with a healthy ocular surface. If you've noticed your eyes feeling scratchy, tired, or irritated lately, you're not alone. Dry Eye Disease (DED), also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is one of the most common conditions we identify during comprehensive eye exams — and it affects women over 55 more than almost any other group. The hormonal shifts that naturally occur during and after menopause can directly impact your tear glands, reducing both tear volume and tear quality, and leaving your ocular surface vulnerable to irritation and inflammation. Your tear film is actually made up of three protective layers working together — the lipid layer from your meibomian glands, the aqueous layer from your lacrimal glands, and the mucin layer from your goblet cells — think of them as a shield that keeps your eyes comfortable and your cornea lubricated. When even one of those layers is out of balance, it can lead to corneal exposure and make everyday activities like reading, driving, or screen time uncomfortable and difficult to enjoy.

How Your Daily Routine and Environment Play a Role

Dry Eye Disease rarely has a single cause — and that's something our optometrists hear about every day. The most common culprit we diagnose is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), a condition where the meibomian glands in your eyelids become blocked, reducing the lipid layer of your tear film. Without that protective oily coating, tears evaporate too quickly, leaving your cornea exposed, irritated, and vulnerable to ongoing ocular surface inflammation.

The Role of Age, Hormones, and Your Medical History

You may be surprised to learn that your lifestyle habits can have a direct impact on your tear film health. Prolonged screen time — whether on a phone, tablet, or computer — naturally reduces your blink rate, which means your tears aren't being evenly redistributed across your ocular surface. At the same time, everyday environmental factors like air conditioning, indoor heating, and wind can accelerate tear evaporation, triggering that familiar gritty, burning, or stinging sensation that so many of our patients describe.

The Role of Age, Hormones, and Your Medical History

As we get older, our lacrimal glands gradually produce fewer tears — and for women, the hormonal changes that come with menopause can further reduce both tear volume and tear quality. This is why chronic dryness is so prevalent in women over 55. Certain medications can also quietly contribute to the problem. Antihistamines, antidepressants, and blood pressure treatments are among the most common prescription-related dry eye disease causes we uncover. Autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus can also compromise your goblet cells and aqueous layer, making a thorough review of your medical history an essential part of your care.

How Perspective Eye Care Diagnoses and Treats Dry Eye Disease

Getting the right treatment starts with getting the right diagnosis. Our team uses advanced comprehensive eye exams to evaluate your tear film stability, measure tear volume, and assess the health of your cornea and ocular surface. Whether you're experiencing watery eyes — a common reflex response to dryness — blurred vision that shifts when you blink, or persistent light sensitivity, we have the tools and expertise to pinpoint exactly what's driving your discomfort. From clinically proven treatment options to personalized lifestyle modifications, we'll build a care plan that works for your eyes and your life.