You may only associate tears with crying or pain, but tears are vital to the healthy functioning of your eyes each and every day. If something affects your natural tear production, you may develop a condition known as dry eye, which not only is uncomfortable but can lead to more serious problems. Fortunately, most cases of dry eye can be treated with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter eye drops.
Identification
Your tears consist of a mixture of water, fatty oils, proteins and electrolytes that keeps the surface of your eyes smooth and clear, and protects them from infection. An imbalance of those elements or a disruption in tear production can lead to dry eye. Symptoms of the condition include a sensation of stinging, burning or scratching in your eyes; mucus in or around your eyes; eye fatigue after only short periods of reading; sensitivity to light; increased eye irritation from smoke or wind; blurred vision; and ironically, periods of excessive tearing.
Significance
It's estimated that close to five million Americans age 50 or older suffer from dry eye syndrome, and tens of millions more exhibit less severe symptoms, according to Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Dry eye can make it more difficult for you to perform activities like using a computer or reading, and it can decrease tolerance for dry environments. Untreated dry eye can also lead to pain, ulcers or scars on the cornea and some loss of vision, cautions the National Eye Institute.
Solution
For most people with occasional or mild dry eyes, MayoClinic.com says that over-the-counter artificial tears will be all that you'll need. These eye drops come in preservative and nonpreservative formulas. You can use eye drops with preservatives up to four times a day, although they can cause eye irritation on their own. Nonpreservative eye drops are frequently packaged in multiple single-use vials that you throw away after using. Types of artificial tears include drops, which you can use any time, and ointments that provide more lasting relief but can cloud your vision, which is one reason they're recommended for use before bedtime.
Considerations
AllAboutVision.com cautions to avoid eye drops used to "get the red out," because they don't contain artificial tear formulas but do contain vasoconstrictors that over time produce diminishing results, with more and more of the solution needed to achieve the same effect. You should also be aware that many eye drops, especially artificial tears, can't be used while you are wearing contact lenses. You should remove the contact lenses first, use the drops, and then wait 15 minutes or longer before putting your contacts back in.
Warning
MedlinePlus warns that you should see your health care provider if: you have eyes that are red or painful; you notice flaking, discharge or a lesion on your eye or eyelid; you've have trauma to your eye; your eye discomfort is accompanied by joint pain, swelling, stiffness or a dry mouth; or your dry eyes don't respond to self-care treatments within a few days to a week.
