Eye SchoolUrgent

This site provides general eye-health education. It cannot replace individual assessment by a registered doctor, and does not offer personal diagnosis, prescriptions, bookings, sales or referrals.

If translations differ or are incomplete, the Traditional Chinese (zh-Hant) text on this site prevails.

Eyelids and tear film · 02

Dry eye

Gritty dryness · do not dismiss severe cases as “just dry eye”

Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 · 潘家健醫生

Key points

  • Dry eye is usually an unstable or insufficient tear film; evaporative dry eye (often with meibomian gland dysfunction) is common in Hong Kong.
  • Grit, burning and fluctuating blur can be dry eye; tearing can still be “dry eye.”
  • Sudden vision drop or sudden blindness, or severe pain with headache and vomiting: go to A&E now.
  • Severe pain and light sensitivity, a very red swollen eye with heavy discharge, or dry mouth / joint pain / rash as well: do not treat as ordinary dry eye — same-day assessment when possible.

What it is

The tear film (oil, water, mucus) is unstable or insufficient. Evaporative dry eye from meibomian gland dysfunction is common in Hong Kong. It can coexist with blepharitis and Demodex.

Symptoms / when to seek care

  • Grit, burning, fluctuating blur, tearing that is still “dry eye”
  • Sudden vision drop or sudden blindness: go to A&E now. Severe eye pain with headache and vomiting: go to A&E now. Severe pain and light sensitivity, a very red swollen eye with heavy discharge, or dry mouth, joint pain or rash as well — do not treat this as ordinary dry eye; see a doctor the same day if possible

What a doctor may discuss

  • Cut long stretches of screen time; look into the distance from time to time, blink on purpose, humidify. “20-20-20” is a memory aid, not a regimen proven in a large trial
  • Warm compress and lid hygiene (see the dedicated pages)
  • Lubricating drops; anti-inflammatory drops only on prescription
  • Do not self-use steroid drops long term

Selected public references (not a full bibliography)

These are the public studies this page draws on. PMID links go to PubMed (US National Library of Medicine) so you can check them. Figures are from those studies — not your prognosis and not a clinic success rate. Links are not a shop.

  1. Craig JP, Nichols KK, Akpek EK, et al. TFOS DEWS II definition and classification report. Ocul Surf. 2017;15(3):276-283. PMID 28736335國際乾眼定義與分類（蒸發／水液／混合）。教育架構；不是個人診斷標籤。

This is general medical information, not a diagnosis, and cannot replace an in-person consultation with a registered ophthalmologist, refraction, or a dilated fundus exam. It is not advice to use any medicine or undergo any procedure. Medicines (including off-label use), laser or surgery must be decided by a registered doctor after examination, according to indications and Hong Kong registration. Figures from the literature are published averages, not any clinic’s results. This site does not book, prescribe or refer. Do not change treatment on your own.