Common causes of dry eyes include:

• Aging

• Dry environment or workplace (wind, air conditioning)

• Sun exposure

• Smoking or second-hand smoke exposure

• Cold or allergy medicines

• An eye injury or other problem with your eyes or eyelids (like a drooping eyelid or bulging eyes)

• Sjogren's syndrome -- includes dry eyes, mouth, and mucus membranes, and often rheumatoid arthritis or other joint disorder

• Previous eye surgery.

Home Care:

The following steps may help:

• Try artificial tears, available as either drops or ointment. Ointments last longer, but are thicker and can cause blurry vision.

• Don't smoke. Avoid second-hand smoke, direct wind, and air conditioning.

• Use a humidifier, especially in the winter.

• Purposefully blink more often. Rest your eyes.

When to Contact a Medical Professional:

Call your doctor if:

• You have red or painful eyes.

• You have flaking, discharge, or a lesion on your eye or eyelid.

• You have had trauma to your eye, or you have a bulging eye or a drooping eyelid.

• You have joint pain, swelling, or stiffness.

• You also have a dry mouth.

• Your dry eyes do not respond to self-care measures within a few days.