hello wrensong,
i've posted here about dry eyes a couple of years ago. Mine came on suddenly while I was in peri-menopause. My eyes were so dry I could feel the air on my eyeballs as I walked around. They were sore and irritated and i only got relief when showering, and when I went to sleep.
I was beside myself with worry, wondering if I would have to quit my job as it hurt to look at a computer for any length of time, let alone 8 hours a day.
I went to an Opthalmologist. She recommended I do warm compresses twice a day to warm up the oil in the meibomian glands. She also said to put in eye drops every hour for the first day, then every 2 hours for the 2nd, etc etc until I find a schedule that makes my eyes comfortable.
After a while, i think 4 to 5 months, the dryness abated.
This happened to me again earlier this year in January. I re-started the program, and again, the dryness abated. It's not completely gone but I am much better. I think the hormones played a role.
I hope you are feeling better.