Causes and Symptoms of Dry Eye

Did you know that about 16.4 million people in the United States are estimated to have been diagnosed with dry eye disease? This is based on a 2017 study (published in the National Library of Medicine) involving participants 18 years and older. 

Are you one of the people who suffer from this common eye condition? Read on to learn more about dry eye, especially its causes and symptoms. 

Why You Have Dry Eye

According to the National Eye Institute, dry eye occurs when the eyes don't produce enough tears to keep them lubricated. Another possible cause is when the tears don't work correctly, resulting in discomfort or even vision problems. There are a few other reasons why you may have dry eye, including:

• Medications: Some medicines have dry eye as one of their side effects. This happens when the medicine you're taking leads to insufficient tears. In other cases, the medication alters the mixture of components in your tears. These medications include some antidepressants, antihistamines, sleeping pills, and acne medicines. You may also suffer from dry eye disease if you're taking birth control pills or undergoing hormone replacement therapy

• Health Conditions: Besides the problems related to the amount or quality of your tears, dry eye may also be due to changes elsewhere in your body. Several systemic health issues may cause or exacerbate dry eyes. These include high blood pressure, diabetes, lupus, and arthritis, among others. Some types of laser eye surgery have dry eye as its side effect

• Environment: If you spend time in windy, smoky, or dry places, your tears may dry up faster. This can cause dry eyes. Staring at a digital screen for too long may also contribute to discomfort. If you haven't noticed, you tend to blink less often when working on a computer, playing mobile games, or watching movies on your tablet

Common Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye disease can affect anyone, but it's more common as people age. This is because you produce fewer tears as you get older. If you have dry eyes, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Redness
   

• Itchiness
   

• Tired eyes
   

• Watery eyes
   

• Light sensitivity
   

• Occasional blurred vision
   

• Mucus around the eyelids
   

• Stinging or burning sensation
   

• Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
   

• Gritty feeling or as if something foreign is in the eye

Adequate production of tears is crucial to eye health. Besides the symptoms mentioned above, you may experience fluctuations in your vision if your dry eye is not treated. It may also lead to corneal damage. In extreme cases, the condition may result in permanent scarring. 

How Dry Eye Is Treated

There remains no cure for dry eye disease. Nevertheless, there are ways to manage the symptoms associated with the condition. There are a few ways to alleviate the discomfort. You may focus on increasing tear production, maintaining tear film volume, or preventing the excessive loss of tears. You can achieve this by making a conscious effort to rest your eyes and blink more often. Another option is to use artificial tears in the form of eye drops, ointments, or gels. These can help moisten your eyes' surface. Special plugs are also available to avoid losing too much of your tears. It's also highly recommended to increase the humidity of the air both at work and at home. For severe dry eye, surgery may be a viable solution. 

Do you suffer from dry eye? Talk to our eye care professionals at Eyes on You, PC, in Portland, Oregon. Call us now at (971) 252-7500 to book an appointment.