How to Tell If Your Eye Irritation Is Dry Eye - Red Flags & When to Seek Care

Occasional eye irritation happens to everyone - after a long day on screens, during allergy season, or in dry indoor air. But when irritation becomes frequent, persistent, or progressively worse, it may be more than a temporary annoyance. Chronic dry eye disease is a common but often underdiagnosed condition that can significantly impact comfort, vision, and quality of life. Understanding the warning signs of dry eye and knowing when to seek professional care can help you get relief sooner and prevent long-term damage.

What Is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough quality tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. Tears are essential for keeping the surface of the eye smooth, healthy, and clear. When the tear film becomes unstable, inflammation and discomfort can follow. Dry eye is often chronic and progressive, meaning it tends to worsen over time without proper treatment.

Common Red Flags That Point to Dry Eye

Not all eye irritation is dry eye, but the following symptoms are strong indicators that dry eye disease may be the cause:

• Persistent Burning or Stinging: A frequent burning, stinging, or scratchy sensation is one of the most common signs of dry eye.

• Gritty or “Sandy” Feeling: Many patients describe dry eye as feeling like something is stuck in their eye, even when nothing is there.

• Redness That Doesn’t Go Away: Occasional redness is normal, but chronic or recurring redness may indicate ongoing inflammation related to dry eye.

• Fluctuating or Blurry Vision: If your vision clears after blinking but quickly becomes blurry again, tear film instability may be the culprit.

• Light Sensitivity: Increased sensitivity to light can occur when the eye surface is inflamed or unprotected by healthy tears.

• Contact Lens Discomfort: Dry eye often makes contact lenses uncomfortable or intolerable, even if you’ve worn them for years without issues.

Why a Comprehensive Dry Eye Evaluation Matters

It’s time to seek professional care if your symptoms last longer than a few weeks, over-the-counter eye drops provide little or no relief, or irritation begins to interfere with daily activities like work, reading, or extended screen use. Fluctuating or worsening vision and the need to rely on eye drops multiple times a day are also important warning signs.

Dry eye can stem from multiple factors, including meibomian gland dysfunction, inflammation, tear film imbalance, or environmental stressors. A comprehensive dry eye consultation allows us to pinpoint the root cause and create a personalized treatment plan.

At Perspective Dry Eye Clinic, we offer a full scope of advanced dry eye services, including:

• Dry eye consultations and diagnostic testing

• Meibomian gland imaging to assess gland health

• Customized dry eye therapy plans

• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy

• Low-level light therapy

• Punctal plugs to improve tear retention

• LipiFlow thermal pulsation treatment

• Zest eyelid treatments

• NuLids eyelid hygiene therapy

• Lacrifill tear replenishment therapy

By addressing both symptoms and underlying causes, we help patients achieve lasting relief.

Ready to Find Real Relief?

Ongoing eye irritation isn’t something you have to accept as normal. Dry eye disease is common, progressive, and highly treatable when properly diagnosed. Recognizing the red flags and addressing the root cause can make a meaningful difference in both comfort and long-term eye health.

At Perspective Dry Eye Clinic, we offer advanced diagnostics and a full range of customized treatment options designed to provide lasting relief. Schedule your dry eye consultation and take the first step toward clearer, more comfortable vision. Visit our office in Spanish Fort, Alabama, call (251) 301-5650, or book an appointment online today.