Symptom

Dry, Itchy or Watery Eyes

Dry, itchy or watery eyes are very common and are often caused by irritation of the eye surface. Although the symptoms may seem minor, persistent discomfort can affect your vision, your concentration and your everyday activities.

What can cause it?

Watery eyes and dry eyes sound like opposites, but they frequently share the same origin: an unstable tear film that leaves the eye surface irritated, which then triggers reflex tearing. Common causes include:

  • Dry eye disease
  • Blepharitis, or inflammation along the eyelid margin
  • Allergies
  • Contact lens wear
  • Long periods of screen use
  • Air conditioning, pollution or a dry environment
  • Certain medications

When is it worth having it checked?

An eye examination may help if the symptoms are frequent or persistent, if they affect your vision, or if artificial tears no longer give you sufficient relief.

Ongoing irritation is worth investigating even when it feels mild — it is easier to settle the underlying cause than to manage discomfort that has become chronic.

How we can help

We assess the eye surface, the tear film and the eyelids, and look for the underlying cause rather than only the symptom.

What we recommend depends on what we find, and may include eye drops, eyelid care, practical advice about your screen and environment, or dedicated dry eye care.

Meet your specialist

Care led by specialists you'll meet in person.

Dr. JD Ferwerda
Lead Ophthalmologist · Cataract and Retina Surgeon

Dr. JD Ferwerda, MD

Dr. JD Ferwerda, MD: Dutch-trained ophthalmologist specialising in cataracts, lens exchange, retinal disease, glaucoma, and AMD.

Dr. Artem Kozhechenkov
Refractive Surgeon

Dr. Artem Kozhechenkov, MD

Russian-trained refractive and general ophthalmologist, leads lasik/ laser vision correction at EEC

All consultations at European Eye Center are thorough and personalised.

Our front desk team will help you book the most suitable doctor for your symptoms.

If you are experiencing urgent eye symptoms, please contact us as soon as possible.