Episode
What Causes Dry Eyes
- Podcast
- Doctor Eye Health Podcast
- Published
- Dec 10, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3126
- Processing state
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Summary
Dry eye syndrome is rising fast because of screen time, inflammation, autoimmune issues, and meibomian gland dysfunction and younger people are feeling it more than ever. In this episode of the Dr. Eye Health Podcast, Dr. Joseph Allen and Dr. Cecelia Koetting unpack the real reasons behind dry eye, why it’s not “just dryness,” and the simple lifestyle and clinical treatments that actually work. Dry eyes isn’t one thing. It’s a syndrome with multiple layers- oil, aqueous, mucin and when even one system breaks down, your tear film can’t stabilize. Dr. Allen and Dr. Koetting break down the science in an easily understandable way, from “dirty windshield” corneal staining to how blinking drops by two-thirds when you’re scrolling your phone. They also dive into inflammation cycles, autoimmune triggers, diabetes-related nerve damage, incomplete blinking, eyelid position, preservatives like BAK, lash serums, Accutane, Botox complications, sleep apnea, thyroid issues, and more. This one is packed with real answers and real-life strategies you can use to protect your vision long-term. What You’ll Learn ✅ The top causes of dry eye syndrome most people never hear about ✅ Why meibomian gland dysfunction is behind 60 percent of cases ✅ How hormones, autoimmune issues, meds, and screen time make symptoms worse ✅ Simple steps you can take today to reduce dryness and protect your ocular surface 👉 Want real relief from dry eye? Check out TheraTears’ Dry Eye Therapy lineup and find the right product for your eyes: https://www.theratears.com/ Timestamps (00:00) Intro: Why dry eye is misunderstood (00:20) How screen time lowers blink rate from 20 BPM to as low as 7 BPM (01:00) What tear film layers actually do (02:40) Dry eye vs dry eye disease vs syndrome (05:00) Keratoconjunctivitis sicc…