7 Surprising Causes of Dry Eye and How to Treat Them
You know that feeling when your eyes start to sting or feel gritty — like that little poodle you saw blinking and pawing at it's eyes? Dry eye can be just as bothersome for us, often creeping in for reasons we don’t expect. Beyond the discomfort, untreated dryness can affect vision and make everyday tasks feel harder. At Innovative EyeCare, we take a deeper look at why it happens. In this post, we’ll uncover seven surprising causes of dry eye and share treatments that actually target the root of the problem, not just the symptoms.
1. Your Environment
Living in the dry Arizona climate (especially with air conditioning and dust) pulls moisture from your eyes. Even ceiling fans can accelerate evaporation.
Treatment: A humidifier can help at home, but in-office therapies like IPL, RF, or Tixel-I provide long-term relief by addressing the underlying gland dysfunction that makes your eyes vulnerable to dryness.
2. Screen Time Overload
Staring at digital screens reduces how often you blink - sometimes by half! Fewer blinks mean less oil spread across your tear film, so your eyes dry out faster.
Treatment: Follow the 20-20-20 rule (look 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes) and ask about Tixel-I, a heat-based treatment that revitalizes the eyelid skin and supports better tear function.
3. Hormonal Changes
Shifts in estrogen and androgen levels during pregnancy, menopause, or even certain birth control use can alter tear production and gland function.
Treatment: We tailor dry eye plans to your unique hormonal stage, combining nutritional support (omega-3s, hydration) with RF therapy to rebalance and rejuvenate the glands naturally.
4. Medications You Might Not Suspect
Common prescriptions including Accutane, Retinols, Antihistamines, Antidepressants, and Blood pressure medications can decrease tear production as a side effect.
Treatment: Bring a list of your current medications to your dry eye consultation. We’ll identify potential contributors and create a holistic plan that fits your health and comfort goals.
5. Your Makeup Routine
Certain eyeliners, lash serums, and waterproof mascaras can block the oil glands along your eyelids. When these glands (called meibomian glands) get clogged, your tears evaporate too quickly — leading to irritation and inflammation.
Treatment: At Innovative EyeCare, we use advanced imaging to check your tear glands and offer in-office treatments like IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and RF (Radio Frequency) therapy to clear blockages and restore healthy oil flow.
6. Contact Lenses
Even soft lenses can sometimes disrupt your natural tear film, especially if worn for long hours or in dry environments.
Treatment: We evaluate your lens fit, surface coatings, and material to ensure optimal comfort with soft contact lenses. Daily disposable lenses are best for dry eye. There are also unique contact lens solutions like scleral lenses which are large lenses to bathe your eye with hydrating tears during the day, or orthokeratology (ortho-k) to give your eyes a break during the day and correct your vision while you sleep.
7. Inflammation from Blepharitis or Demodex
These eyelid conditions are common yet often overlooked causes of dry eye. Mites or bacterial buildup at the lash base can inflame glands and block oil flow.
Treatment: Professional eyelid exfoliation, IPL to kill bacteria and mites, and targeted prescription drops such as Xdemvy help plan to remove buildup, calm inflammation, and restore comfort without relying on endless drops.
🌿 Unconventional (and Effective) Solutions for Dry Eyes
When eye drops and warm compresses only bring temporary relief, it’s time to explore next-level options that actually target the root cause of dryness. At Innovative EyeCare, we offer advanced therapies designed to restore comfort and improve the health of your tear glands and not just mask symptoms.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and RF (Radio Frequency) treatments gently heat and clear the meibomian glands, improving natural oil flow and reducing inflammation that leads to dryness. Tixel-I offers a unique, non-invasive way to rejuvenate the eyelid skin and meibomian glands using targeted thermal energy, perfect for patients who want both eye comfort and subtle aesthetic benefits.
For more severe cases, regenerative options like amniotic membrane therapy and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) eye drops can promote healing on the ocular surface and reduce inflammation from chronic dryness or damage. And for patients whose tears evaporate too quickly, punctal plugs help conserve natural tears by slowing drainage through the tear ducts.
There are so many effective treatments available today, far beyond what most people realize. If one therapy hasn’t worked for you, don’t give up. The right combination can finally bring lasting comfort and healthier eyes.
