Dry Eyes in Calgary: What’s Actually Causing Them and How to Fix It
You’re sitting at your desk in a downtown Calgary high-rise...
There's a chinook outside and a spreadsheet inside. Your monitor stares at you like it’s trying to win a blinking contest.
Your eyes are dry, irritated, maybe even burning — and by 3 p.m., they feel like someone lined your eyelids with Velcro and then made you blink.
Welcome to the very real, very annoying world of Dry Eye Disease, Calgary edition.
Calgary + Computers = A Perfect Storm for Dry Eyes
Let’s connect some dots here:
Calgary’s average relative humidity is one of the lowest in Canada — sometimes hovering around 30% in winter.
Office HVAC systems are basically moisture-extraction machines.
Add 10+ hours of daily screen time to the mix, and your tear film doesn't stand a chance.
Here’s the science: Every time you blink, your eyes spread a thin layer of tears across your cornea. This is your tear film—it’s crucial for both vision clarity and comfort.
But blink rate drops by 60–70% during screen use, according to peer-reviewed studies. You’re not blinking, you’re not replenishing tears. Now throw in Calgary’s ultra-dry air, and your tear film starts evaporating faster than the Flames playoff hopes in January.
The Tear Film Isn’t Just Water
Let’s get a bit nerdy (but not boring):
Your tears aren’t just salty water. They’re a three-layered sandwich made of:
The various layers of the tear film. The oil layer is one of the most frequently affected in dry eye sufferers.
Mucin base layer – Helps the tears stick to your eye.
Aqueous (watery) layer – Hydrates and nourishes the eye.
Oil layer (lipid layer) – Prevents evaporation.
When dry air and screen time team up, it’s often the oil layer that fails first. That oil is made by your meibomian glands, which are located in your eyelids.
Chronic Dryness = Gland Damage
If your eyes have been dry for months—or even years—your meibomian glands can physically change:
They can become blocked, so the oil can’t escape.
They can shrink or die off completely (atrophy).
This condition is called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), and it’s now considered the #1 cause of dry eye disease worldwide.
It's especially common in Calgary office workers exposed to dry indoor air all day long.
TL;DR: If you live and work in Calgary and your eyes are always dry, you're not imagining it. Your environment is attacking your tear film—and the glands that keep it stable might be breaking down.
Meibography images of the inside of the lower eyelid. The white streaks are oil glands that progressively gets smaller and more disorganized as the degree of diagnosed eyelid dysfunction increases.
What Science-Backed Treatments Actually Work?
Let’s skip the cucumber slices and essential oils. Here’s what the research actually supports:
✅ Preservative-Free Artificial Tears
Ideal for short-term relief. Look for lipid-based formulas.
✅ Warm Compresses & Lid Hygiene
These unclog meibomian glands and improve oil flow.
✅ Omega-3 Supplements
Mixed results in studies like the DREAM trial, but many patients report improvement.
✅ Clinic-based Treatments
Options like LipiFlow use heat and gentle pressure to “melt” and release clogged oil, although some studies have found that LipiFlow's effectiveness is comparable to other treatments like warm compresses and eyelid hygiene routines, with no significant superiority.
What You Can Do Right Now
Here’s your action plan:
Use the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds—and blink!
Consider a humidifier in your office. You’ll thank yourself.
Book an eye exam at Calgary Vision Centre. We use meibography to check the health of your glands and tailor your treatment.
Conclusion: Your Job + Calgary’s Climate = Dry Eye Nightmare
But your eyes aren’t doomed. They just need evidence-based TLC—and maybe a good oil change (literally).
📅 Book your dry eye assessment at Calgary Vision Centre today.
Your meibomian glands deserve it.
Dr. Burke is an optometrist practicing at Calgary Vision Centre. He has suffers from very dry eyes and has tried many different options to help rectify the situation. Opinions above do not constitute medical advice, and readers should consult with their optometrist and health care team if they have questions or concerns about their eye health