Tears cover the eyes at all times; they help prevent the eye from feeling dry and maintain clear vision. When you experience dry eyes you may experience symptoms such as irritation in the eye, eye fatigue and blurry vision. Complications associated with constant dry eyes include inflammation of the eye and scarring on the cornea, according to the Mayo Clinic. Treatments such as artificial tears may decrease the symptoms of dry eye.
Decreased Tear Production
Dry eyes are common as we age because the body naturally reduces the production of tears. Women after menopause are most at risk for having dry eyes because of hormonal changes in the body. A hormonal imbalance in pregnant women may also decrease tear production. Other conditions that may decrease tear production include vitamin A deficiency and diabetes. Controlling these conditions helps treat dry eyes.
Medications
Many types of common medications may dry out the eyes as a side effect. These medication classes include antidepressants, pain relievers, diuretics---used to treat high blood pressure and kidney disorders---antihistamines, birth control pills and sleeping aids. Medications available by prescription and over the counter may cause dry eyes. Changing medications may help treat the problem.
Immune System Disorders
Some autoimmune diseases may cause the eyes to experience dryness. Conditions prone to dry eyes include lupus, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis. A condition called Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder marked by dry eyes and a dry mouth. There is no cure for these conditions, but treating the dry eye symptoms with artificial tears may relieve the irritation.
Eyelid Dysfunction
A dysfunction of the eyelid might cause the eyes to feel dry. An injury to the eyelid might cause a decrease in ability to close fully and moisturize the eye. Conditions such as bulging eyes may not allow the eyelid to cover the eye fully and increase the risk of dry eyes.
Environment
Environmental conditions such as harsh wind, air conditioning and pollen increase the likelihood of constant dry eye symptoms. Smoking and exposure to the sun also increase the chance of having irritated and dry eyes. Avoiding these conditions helps decrease the dry eye irritation.
Surgery
Having surgery such as vision correction on the eyes increases the risk of experiencing constant dry eyes. Dry eyes resulting from surgery are usually temporary and resolve within six months, according to the National Eye Institute.
