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More Than Just Screen Fatigue: What Your Eyes Are Trying to Tell You

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SemicHealth Pulse
August 01, 2025

Fresh health tips, inspiring stories, and more every Friday. Brought to you by SemicHealth

Hey there,

Welcome to this week’s edition of SemicHealth Pulse.

Emma is a product manager for a multi-million dollar company in the US. Recently, she has been working late on her laptop, attending back-to-back meetings, and trying to meet up with project deadlines, and barely having a break for herself.

Emma continued with her normal routine until one morning, her eyes felt gritty, itchy, and watery.

"Just screen stress," she thought.

But days passed, and the irritation didn’t stop. Her eyes started stinging in the sunlight.

She blamed it on tiredness until a routine doctor’s visit revealed something more serious than she thought.

Her diagnosis? Dry eye syndrome worsened by an allergic reaction and undiagnosed blepharitis. This sounds like a lot of medical terms, right? Don't worry, we are explaining everything you need to know.

Many people brush off burning, watery eyes as simple screen fatigue, but there’s often more going on underneath.

What You’ll Learn Today:

  • Common but overlooked causes of eye burning and watering

  • When it’s more than “screen fatigue”

  • Simple changes to ease symptoms

  • When to seek medical help

My Eyes Pain GIF

Why Your Eyes Burn

We blink about 15-20 times per minute, except when we’re staring at a screen. Then, that number drops to just 5-7 blinks per minute.

This means less blinking means less lubrication, and less lubrication equates to dry, irritated eyes.

But dryness isn't the only reason your eyes might burn or water. Here are a few other causes:

  • Allergies (dust, pollen, pet dander)

  • Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margins)

  • Meibomian gland dysfunction (oil glands in your eyelids not working properly)

  • Conjunctivitis (also known as “pink eye”)

  • Foreign particles or reaction to skincare/makeup

  • Dry indoor air or exposure to wind

  • Overuse of contact lenses

a man is rubbing his eyes because of itching and irritation

But My Eyes Are Watering—Doesn’t That Mean They’re Not Dry?

Actually, no—it’s a common misunderstanding.

When your eyes are dry, irritated, or inflamed, they can trigger a natural defense mechanism: reflex tearing. This is your body’s way of saying, “Something’s wrong, flush it out!”

These reflex tears are produced in large amounts and tend to spill over your cheeks, not because your eyes are well-lubricated, but because they’re struggling to stay balanced.

Unlike basal tears (the ones that constantly hydrate and nourish your eyes), reflex tears are mostly water. They lack the oily and mucous layers that help real tears stick to your eyeball and keep it properly moisturized.

While your eyes may look watery, they’re actually overcompensating for being too dry underneath.

So yes, watery eyes can be a sign of extreme dryness.

a woman drinking a glass of fresh water

Easy Ways to Find Relief

If your eyes often feel dry, itchy, or watery, simple lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. These daily habits can soothe irritation and support your eye health over time:

  1. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. This rule implies that every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce screen strain.

  2. Drinking enough water helps prevent and ease dry eyes.

  3. Use gentle, fragrance-free products around your eyes to avoid irritation.

  4. Keep fans and AC vents from blowing directly at your face.

  5. Apply a clean, warm cloth to your eyelids to unclog oil glands and ease discomfort.

  6. Try preservative-free artificial tears. These can provide fast, safe moisture when your eyes feel dry.

  7. Wash your hands before touching your eyes. This reduces the risk of infections and flare-ups.

These little changes, when done consistently, can protect your eyes and restore lasting comfort.

Getting things in focus

When to See a Doctor

Seek medical advice if you experience:

  • Burning or stinging that lasts more than a few days

  • Yellow discharge or crusting in your eyelashes

  • Blurry vision that doesn’t improve with blinking

  • Light sensitivity

  • Swollen or red eyelids

P.S. Know someone rubbing their eyes nonstop or blaming screens for their discomfort? Forward this email, it might save them from chronic eye issues.

Here’s what to read next!

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Thanks for reading, and take care, friends! We’ll be back next week to talk about "Still Getting Ankle Pain When You Run? These Shoes Changed Everything for Me." See you then!

Here’s your reminder to email [email protected] with any (general) health and wellness questions you’d like for us to answer in a future edition.