Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Dry eyesin children are rare but potentially serious and may indicate a more problematic condition. It’s important to pay close attention if a child is having recurring dry eyes and to seek treatment to rule out more serious conditions. Over time, if dry eyes are left untreated, vision and eye problems may be more likely to occur.
In this article, learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment for dry eyes in children, and how dry eyes may be a sign of a more serious condition.
Verywell / Julie Bang
Symptoms of Dry Eyes in Children
Just like for adults, dry eyes are uncomfortable and may be especially painful for children. Symptoms may include the following:
Prevalence of Dry Eyes in KidsWhile it’s not entirely known how common dry eyes are in children, in one study the rate of dry eye disease in all children was 6.6%.
Prevalence of Dry Eyes in Kids
While it’s not entirely known how common dry eyes are in children, in one study the rate of dry eye disease in all children was 6.6%.
Causes of Dry Eyes in Kids
There is a wide range of reasons for why kids experience dry eyes. The condition may be due to common outdoor and indoor allergens, dysfunction in the eye glands, autoimmune disorders, endocrine issues, inflammatory disorders, and neurological conditions.
Common Causes
Common causes of dry eyes in children include:
Screen Time and Dry EyesA 2016 study indicated smartphone use in children was strongly associated with pediatric dry eye disease. The study noted that outdoor activity appeared to offer some protection from the disease.The data varied based on the child’s age, their amount of screen time, and the amount of time they spent outside. Decreasing screen time is challenging for parents, as the use of smartphones, tablets, and laptops is often part of the school day for children, especially in higher grades.
Screen Time and Dry Eyes
A 2016 study indicated smartphone use in children was strongly associated with pediatric dry eye disease. The study noted that outdoor activity appeared to offer some protection from the disease.The data varied based on the child’s age, their amount of screen time, and the amount of time they spent outside. Decreasing screen time is challenging for parents, as the use of smartphones, tablets, and laptops is often part of the school day for children, especially in higher grades.
A 2016 study indicated smartphone use in children was strongly associated with pediatric dry eye disease. The study noted that outdoor activity appeared to offer some protection from the disease.
The data varied based on the child’s age, their amount of screen time, and the amount of time they spent outside. Decreasing screen time is challenging for parents, as the use of smartphones, tablets, and laptops is often part of the school day for children, especially in higher grades.
Serious Conditions That Cause Dry Eyes in Kids
Sometimes dry eyes are an indication that a more serious condition is occurring. This is why it’s important to seek medical care for persistent dry eyes in children.
Here’s a list of serious and often rare conditions that cause dry eyes in children:
Treating Dry Eye in Kids
Increasing moisture through the use of moisturizing eye drops is typically the first step in treating dry eye disease. A healthcare provider may have to try a few different treatments or types of medications, depending on what’s causing the dry eyes.
Typical treatments include:
At-Home Treatments for Dry Eyes
While treatment is usually needed and necessary for dry eyes, there are a few things that you or your child can do at home to help reduce dry eye disease, including:
The 20-20-20 RuleWhile reducing screen time is the best way to improve screen-related dry eye, it is not always possible. Children often use screens during school, to complete homework, or other kinds of general learning. The20-20-20rule encourages children to:Take a break from screen use every 20 minutes.Try to look up for 20 seconds.When looking up, focus on an object at least 20 feet away.Typically, humans blink about 15 times a minute, but when looking at a screen, it may drop to only five or seven times a minute, causing dry eyes. The 20-20-20 rule allows the eyes to refresh.
The 20-20-20 Rule
While reducing screen time is the best way to improve screen-related dry eye, it is not always possible. Children often use screens during school, to complete homework, or other kinds of general learning. The20-20-20rule encourages children to:Take a break from screen use every 20 minutes.Try to look up for 20 seconds.When looking up, focus on an object at least 20 feet away.Typically, humans blink about 15 times a minute, but when looking at a screen, it may drop to only five or seven times a minute, causing dry eyes. The 20-20-20 rule allows the eyes to refresh.
While reducing screen time is the best way to improve screen-related dry eye, it is not always possible. Children often use screens during school, to complete homework, or other kinds of general learning. The20-20-20rule encourages children to:
Typically, humans blink about 15 times a minute, but when looking at a screen, it may drop to only five or seven times a minute, causing dry eyes. The 20-20-20 rule allows the eyes to refresh.
How to Give Your Child Eye Drops
Putting drops in a young child’s eyes can be very challenging. Being prepared and distracting the child is key.
Some strategies for administering eye drops in children’s eyes include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If a child seems to have any of the following symptoms, it’s important to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible:
Summary
Dry eye disease is uncommon in children, but it can indicate that a more serious condition is occurring. Screen time is one of the main causes of dry eyes in children. Increasing outside time and reducing digital eye strain can help prevent screen-based dry eyes.
A Word From Verywell
Most of the time, infrequent dry eyes in children is not serious and can be remedied with moisture drops. However, it can mean something more serious is occurring. If your child has persistent dry eyes, seek medical attention from your healthcare provider or pediatrician. Effective treatments are available for underlying conditions that could be causing dry eyes.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf your child’s eyes seem red and irritated, they report feeling like there’s sand or dirt in their eyes, or they are frequently rubbing their eyes, they may have an issue with dry eyes.Yes, children can use eye drops. However, if you’re planning to use over-the-counter eye drop remedies, consider talking to your child’s healthcare provider first. This way you can rule out a more serious condition and ensure you have the right drops for their eyes.A 2019 study indicates that vitamin A improves the quality but not the number of tears in people who have dry eye disease. This fat-soluble vitamin is important for eye health. Throughout the world, particularly in developing countries, vitamin A deficiencies lead to blindness in children. Discuss supplementation with your child’s healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dosage and to rule out other potential issues.Yes, increasing hydration can help improve dry eyes.Filling a water bottle may be the easiest way to track a child’s intake of water. Adding fruit or vegetables to water, such as pineapple, berries, or cucumbers, can add flavor to water, making it tastier for the child. Having the child pick out what fruit infusion they want in their bottle of water may make them more likely to enjoy drinking it.
If your child’s eyes seem red and irritated, they report feeling like there’s sand or dirt in their eyes, or they are frequently rubbing their eyes, they may have an issue with dry eyes.
Yes, children can use eye drops. However, if you’re planning to use over-the-counter eye drop remedies, consider talking to your child’s healthcare provider first. This way you can rule out a more serious condition and ensure you have the right drops for their eyes.
A 2019 study indicates that vitamin A improves the quality but not the number of tears in people who have dry eye disease. This fat-soluble vitamin is important for eye health. Throughout the world, particularly in developing countries, vitamin A deficiencies lead to blindness in children. Discuss supplementation with your child’s healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dosage and to rule out other potential issues.
Yes, increasing hydration can help improve dry eyes.Filling a water bottle may be the easiest way to track a child’s intake of water. Adding fruit or vegetables to water, such as pineapple, berries, or cucumbers, can add flavor to water, making it tastier for the child. Having the child pick out what fruit infusion they want in their bottle of water may make them more likely to enjoy drinking it.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Are we missing dry eye in children?Moon JH, Kim KW, Moon NJ.Smartphone use is a risk factor for pediatric dry eye disease according to region and age: a casecontrol study.BMC Ophthalmol. 2016;16(1):188. doi:10.1186/s12886-016-0364-4Gupta PK, Stevens MN, Kashyap N, Priestley Y.Prevalence of meibomian gland atrophy in a pediatric population.Cornea. 2018;37(4):426-430. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001476St. Louis Children’s Hospital.Sjögren’s syndrome.El-Shazly AAF, Mohamed AA. Relation of dry eye to disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.European Journal ofOphthalmology. 2012;22(3):330-334. doi:10.5301/ejo.5000042Alanazi SA, El-Hiti GA, Al-Baloud AA, et al.Effects of short-term oral vitamin A supplementation on the ocular tear film in patients with dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol. 2019;13:599-604.doi:10.2147/OPTH.S198349Wang S, Jia Y, Li T, et al.Dry eye disease is more prevalent in children with diabetes than in those without diabetes.Current Eye Research. 2019;44(12):1299-1305. doi:10.1080/02713683.2019.1641827American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pediatric dry eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pediatric Dry Eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices and eye strain.American Academy of Pediatrics.How to give eye drops and eye ointment.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Are we missing dry eye in children?Moon JH, Kim KW, Moon NJ.Smartphone use is a risk factor for pediatric dry eye disease according to region and age: a casecontrol study.BMC Ophthalmol. 2016;16(1):188. doi:10.1186/s12886-016-0364-4Gupta PK, Stevens MN, Kashyap N, Priestley Y.Prevalence of meibomian gland atrophy in a pediatric population.Cornea. 2018;37(4):426-430. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001476St. Louis Children’s Hospital.Sjögren’s syndrome.El-Shazly AAF, Mohamed AA. Relation of dry eye to disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.European Journal ofOphthalmology. 2012;22(3):330-334. doi:10.5301/ejo.5000042Alanazi SA, El-Hiti GA, Al-Baloud AA, et al.Effects of short-term oral vitamin A supplementation on the ocular tear film in patients with dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol. 2019;13:599-604.doi:10.2147/OPTH.S198349Wang S, Jia Y, Li T, et al.Dry eye disease is more prevalent in children with diabetes than in those without diabetes.Current Eye Research. 2019;44(12):1299-1305. doi:10.1080/02713683.2019.1641827American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pediatric dry eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pediatric Dry Eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices and eye strain.American Academy of Pediatrics.How to give eye drops and eye ointment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Are we missing dry eye in children?Moon JH, Kim KW, Moon NJ.Smartphone use is a risk factor for pediatric dry eye disease according to region and age: a casecontrol study.BMC Ophthalmol. 2016;16(1):188. doi:10.1186/s12886-016-0364-4Gupta PK, Stevens MN, Kashyap N, Priestley Y.Prevalence of meibomian gland atrophy in a pediatric population.Cornea. 2018;37(4):426-430. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001476St. Louis Children’s Hospital.Sjögren’s syndrome.El-Shazly AAF, Mohamed AA. Relation of dry eye to disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.European Journal ofOphthalmology. 2012;22(3):330-334. doi:10.5301/ejo.5000042Alanazi SA, El-Hiti GA, Al-Baloud AA, et al.Effects of short-term oral vitamin A supplementation on the ocular tear film in patients with dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol. 2019;13:599-604.doi:10.2147/OPTH.S198349Wang S, Jia Y, Li T, et al.Dry eye disease is more prevalent in children with diabetes than in those without diabetes.Current Eye Research. 2019;44(12):1299-1305. doi:10.1080/02713683.2019.1641827American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pediatric dry eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pediatric Dry Eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices and eye strain.American Academy of Pediatrics.How to give eye drops and eye ointment.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Are we missing dry eye in children?
Moon JH, Kim KW, Moon NJ.Smartphone use is a risk factor for pediatric dry eye disease according to region and age: a casecontrol study.BMC Ophthalmol. 2016;16(1):188. doi:10.1186/s12886-016-0364-4
Gupta PK, Stevens MN, Kashyap N, Priestley Y.Prevalence of meibomian gland atrophy in a pediatric population.Cornea. 2018;37(4):426-430. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001476
St. Louis Children’s Hospital.Sjögren’s syndrome.
El-Shazly AAF, Mohamed AA. Relation of dry eye to disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.European Journal ofOphthalmology. 2012;22(3):330-334. doi:10.5301/ejo.5000042
Alanazi SA, El-Hiti GA, Al-Baloud AA, et al.Effects of short-term oral vitamin A supplementation on the ocular tear film in patients with dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol. 2019;13:599-604.doi:10.2147/OPTH.S198349
Wang S, Jia Y, Li T, et al.Dry eye disease is more prevalent in children with diabetes than in those without diabetes.Current Eye Research. 2019;44(12):1299-1305. doi:10.1080/02713683.2019.1641827
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pediatric dry eye.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Pediatric Dry Eye.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices and eye strain.
American Academy of Pediatrics.How to give eye drops and eye ointment.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
