What are dry eyes?
Dry eye is a very common condition. You may have burning and stinging of your eyes, especially in dry conditions or during windy days. You may feel like your eyes are gritty and scratchy and they may be red. Other times, your dry eye symptoms can be that your eyes are watery — this can be confusing, but it is because the surface of your eye is so dry that it triggers a reflex, which makes your eye produce more tears.
Dry eyes
Dry eye is the most common eye condition. It occurs when your tears aren't able to provide adequate moisture for your eyes. The tear film is an important structure that covers the front surface of the eye. Changes in the amount or quality of your tear film can cause dryness.
Reasons why you may have dry eyes:
- Your eyes don't produce enough tears
- The tears that you produce don't work as well as they should
- The tears evaporate too quickly
- The surface of your eye has become inflamed
Meibomian glands in our eyelids produce essential lipids (fats) that make up our tear film. Changes in this process can affect your tear film and ultimately affect dry eye symptoms.
What are the symptoms of dry eyes?
Some people only have mild symptoms or irritation or dryness. They may not find they are particularly bothersome, while others have more severe symptoms that affect their quality of life.
What are dry eyes?
Some people with dry eye experience a constant irritation. This is one of the most common reasons for visiting the eye doctor. Dry eyes are caused mainly by the lack of adequate tears. Your tears are a complex mixture of water, fatty oils and mucus.
What causes dry eyes?
Any condition that stops or greatly reduces normal tear production, loss of lubrication by these essential oils for our tear film or our corneal surface can result in dry eye symptoms.
Other causes of dry eyes include:
- Inflammatory conditions — such as blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, allergies, autoimmune conditions (Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
- Medications — antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants may reduce tear production
- Environmental factors — wind, dry air, smoke, extended screen use without adequate blinking
- Age — tear production tends to decrease with age, particularly in women after menopause
- Contact lens wear — long-term contact lens use can contribute to dry eye symptoms
What treatments can help my dry eyes?
If you have dry eyes, your ophthalmologist can recommend the most appropriate treatment. The first step is identifying and managing the underlying cause of dry eye. Treatment options include:
- Artificial tear drops and lubricating eye ointments
- Warm compresses and eyelid hygiene for meibomian gland dysfunction
- Anti-inflammatory eye drops (prescription)
- Punctal plugs to reduce tear drainage
- Environmental and lifestyle modifications
- Omega-3 fatty acid supplements