David F.
You may have Sjogrens Syndrome making itself known. I have it and many others so. Dry, gritty, painful eyes are just the begining of the many symtoms. There isn't a cure, but the symptoms are treated hence in your case you'd maybe get prescription eye drops. what the syndrome does is dry out your body's skin on through to your organs. SO maintaining fluid levels is very important, but when this can't be done sufficiently artificial lubes of many kinds are used. Your eye dr. should give you the Shwirmers (sp?) test where they measure how your tear ducts work. If this comes up positive for malfunction then they should reinforce there diagnosis with a lip biopsy. Also Anti SS-A and Anti SS-B blood tests are somewhat acurate. Good luck.