The symptoms of dry eye syndrome are mild for most people, although more severe cases can be painful and lead to complications.

Symptoms usually affect both eyes and often include:

• feelings of dryness, grittiness or soreness that get worse throughout the day
• red eyes
• eyelids that stick together when you wake up
• temporarily blurred vision, which usually improves when you blink

Some people may also have episodes of watering eyes, which can occur if the eye tries to relieve the irritation by producing more tears.

More severe symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:

• extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• very red and painful eyes
• a deterioration in your vision

These severe symptoms can be a sign of a serious complication of dry eye syndrome, such as scarring of your cornea (the transparent layer at the front of the eye), that could affect your sight permanently if not treated.

When to seek medical advice

See your GP if you have persistent but mild symptoms of dry eye syndrome. They can examine your eyes and refer you to an eye specialist called an optometrist or ophthalmologist for further tests if necessary.

Contact your GP immediately if you have any severe symptoms. If this is not possible, visit your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department.

Read more about diagnosing dry eye syndrome and treating dry eye syndrome.