The Two Types of Dry Eye — and Why You Might Have Both

Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye 

This type occurs when your lacrimal glands don’t produce enough of the watery layer of your tears. Without enough moisture, the eye’s surface becomes dry, irritated, inflamed and prone to damage. 

Evaporative Dry Eye 

Even if your tear glands produce enough water, your eyes may still feel dry if the oil layer is compromised. This oil, produced by the meibomian glands, prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. Dysfunction here leads to rapid tear evaporation, inflammation and uncomfortable symptoms. 

Many Patients Have Both 

At Washington Eye Doctors, we find that most patients in Washington, DC, Chase, MD, & Arlington VA have a combination of both types—which is why generic eye drops often fail. 

As Dr. Rosenblatt puts it, “That’s why drops may work — but only for a short time… You’re not treating the root of the problem.” 

The Takeaway 

To truly treat dry eye, we need to evaluate your tear film structure and identify which part needs support. Simply adding moisture won’t fix an oil deficiency, and vice versa.