Dry eyes can be a very uncomfortable and annoying condition. About 12 million people in the United States suffer from dry eyes, reports the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dry eyes can cause blurred vision, foreign body sensation, a decrease in vision, itching, redness and burning in your eyes. Dry eyes can make it hard for you to read, look at a computer screen, watch television or do other activities that require visual concentration for sustained periods of time.
Types
There are two types of dry eyes. One is insufficient production of tears. This occurs when you are not able to create enough tears to lubricate your eye. The other is inadequate moisture within your tears. Tears contain three layers of moisturizers: an oily, watery and mucus layer. These layers are designed to protect your eye and prevent tears from evaporating. Sometimes, one of these layers evaporates too quickly due to an inadequacy of one of these layers. This can result in dry eyes, even if you produce an adequate quantity of tears.
Causes
Dry eyes are associated with a multitude of factors including age, female gender, medications, inflammatory eye conditions, allergies, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory immune disorders, wind, dry air, smoke, eyelid defects and laser eye surgery. As we age, tear production tends to decrease. In fact, dry eyes are most prevalent in individuals older than the age of 65, according to the American Optometric Association. Females are also at a higher risk than males due to fluctuating hormones from oral contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause. Medications that are associated with dry eyes include anticholinergics, decongestants, antidepressants, antihistamines and isotretinoin.
Recommendation
See your eye doctor if you are experiencing dry eyes. Your doctor can help to determine the underlying cause, as well as prescribe medications to treat the condition. He or she may give you eye drops to lubricate the eye, promote the production of tears or decrease inflammation. Other options for treatment may include surgery to prevent drainage of tears, essential fatty acid supplements and ointments.
Prevention
There are several measures you can take to ameliorate your symptoms. One is to blink often while reading or looking at a computer. Blinking helps to release tears from your eye. Another is to put a humidifier in your house or in the office. This will help to humidify the air and reduce the amount of dry air in your environment. Also, protect your eyes from the sun and wind by wearing sunglasses when you go outside. This will prevent your tears from evaporating too quickly. Finally, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. You should drink about eight to 10, eight ounce glasses of water a day to promote eye-health, states the American Optometric Association.
Considerations
Dry eyes are not simply an annoyance, but also a risk factor for eye infections, eye ulcers, loss of vision and corneal scars. Therefore, it is prudent to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible to avoid these complications.
