Dry eyes are a common medical condition that reduces lubrication in the eyes. When the eyes don’t have enough water, it creates dryness. Less lubrication creates irritation in the eyes that can damage its surface.
A dry eye is an uncomfortable situation where one can experience burns and inflammation. Dry eye can happen for many reasons. To know the cause, symptoms, and treatment for dry eyes, continue reading.
The tears in the eyes clean your eyes and keep them hydrating. A decrease in tears can create different eye infections. According to research, dry eyes can affect vision, impacting your life. Dry eyes are a severe condition that can cause different damages and complex medical conditions. If you’re experiencing dryness, it is important to take extra care of your eyes and consult an eye specialist as soon as possible.
What is Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes are a medical condition caused by less lubrication in the eyes. There are layers of tears in the eyes that ensure protection of the eyes. To manage healthy eyes, a person needs enough tears to help them to see things comfortably. Less production of tears means you will experience extreme hydration, burning sensation, blurred vision, and more.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
If you have dry eyes, you may feel the dryness in your eyes. Additionally, you may feel something in your eye that is disturbing. You may feel the sensation of burning and scratching your eye to feel relieved. If you also feel the same, you must check the following symptoms:
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty in focus
- Sensitivity in eyes
- Burning sensation
- Watery eyes
- Redness in eyes
- A sensation of something inside an eye
- Irritation in wearing contact lenses
- Eye fatigue
Causes of Dry Eyes
Dry eyes can be a reaction to different medical conditions. Dry eyes are caused when the layer of tears gets disturbed. The tear layer consists of three layers which are mucus, fatty oil, and fluid. These elements make sure to keep the eye hydrated. If there is any issue with the layers, it will create problems for the eyes. The causes of dry eyes can happen generally because of changes in the autoimmune system, hormones, or any eye infection. Below are some of the common causes of dry eyes.
- Thyroid Disease
- Lupus
- Being in a dry or smoky environment
- Increased screen time
- Using contact lenses regularly
- Any eye surgery
- Taking medicines for high blood pressure, allergy, heart, and depression
- Swelling in eyelids
- Blepharitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
To know the causes of your dry eyes, it is essential to consult a good ophthalmologist. At Vision Gallery, there is a competent ophthalmologist who has treated several patients with dry eyes.
Risk Factors of Dry Eyes
Dry eye is a serious issue that should not be ignored. After age 50, many people experience dry eyes, which are becoming more common in females.
People who have undergone any surgery and therapies may also experience dry eyes, which can be risky in the long run. Below are the conditions that can affect the health of your eyes.
- Eye Allergies
- Lasik eye surgery
- Some medication that creates dryness in the body
- Using contact lenses for a long time
- Less blinking of the eye
- Vitamin deficiency
Most doctors say that most people don’t drink enough water, which creates dryness in the entire body, including the eyes. Your body needs enough hydration to keep it functioning. Moreover, with the increase in technology, people spend most of their time on screen. People work and spend their free time on laptops and mobile phones. That is becoming the main reason for dry eyes and affecting vision.
To maintain the good health of your eyes, it is okay to take a break from the screen and take extra care of your eyes. Leaving dry eyes untreated can create many risks for the eyes.
Effective Treatment for Eye Dryness
The treatment of eye dryness depends on the cause and severity of the condition. However, here are some treatments that can help you treat dry eyes.
Medications
The most effective way to treat your dry eyes is to get proper medication from an eye specialist. Using some specific drugs may increase the production of lubrication in the eyes that help to fight from the potential damages.
If you feel some dryness in your eyes, you can use hydrating eye drops. But if you have severe eye dryness, it is better to get a proper prescription from an eye specialist.
Artificial Tears
There are some eye drops that instantly increase moisture in the eyes that restart the production of tears in the eyes. For some people, artificial tears do wonders.
Surgery
If you have severe eye dryness that doesn’t get better with any medicines, you may need special treatment for it. Consult your doctor, and they can recommend the best-suited surgery for you.
This surgery will permanently recover your tear process and help you get enough tears to keep the eyes hydrated.
Proper Eye Care
To keep your eye safe from infection, ensure you live in a place with enough moisture. Moreover, drink lots of water and eat high-fiber food to provide moisture to your body. Limiting your screen usage can also help in treating your eye dryness.
The Bottom Line
A dry eye is an uncomfortable condition that can affect your eyes badly. It can strongly impact the quality of your life, your ability to work, enjoy your life, and more. Dry not only affects your but your emotional health too. With infected eyes, you may feel unsafe to go out, and you have to stay alone. To enjoy your life, it is essential to have healthy eyes. If you have dry eyes and no treatment works, you need a reliable eye doctor. To connect with an eye specialist, call us at 281-377-0219
