There are a variety of causes for dry eyes including exposure to a dry climate (like in the desert or on an airplane), air conditioning or a heater in the winter, or it might simply be a result of a lack of balance in your tears. Our tears are a combination of water, oils, mucus and antibodies that help to keep infection at bay. Tears come from the glands around our eyes and dry eyes can be a confirmation that this tear system is out of whack.
Other causes for dry eyes include aging, going through menopause (dry eyes are more common for women than men), side effects of certain drugs such as antihistamines, problems with your eyelids not closing properly or even certain diseases that can impact our ability to make tears.
For more information regarding dry eye treatment and LASIK in Orange County, visit Advanced Eye Medical today.
Dry Eye Symptoms
When tears don’t provide us with enough moisture for our eyes, the following symptoms might be present:
• A burning or stinging sensation
• A gritty feeling, like there is something in your eye
• Itching
• Redness
• Blurry vision or eye fatigue
• Sensitivity to light
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
You also might have trouble wearing contact lenses or driving at night if you suffer from dry eyes. Chronic dry eye sufferers can sometimes experience an increase in eye infections because, without adequate tears, there is little protection for the surface of the eye. If left untreated, dry eyes can cause damage to the corneal surface, eye inflammation, corneal ulcers and vision problems.
Dry eye syndrome, also referred to as Keratitis sicca, Keratoconjunctivitis and Dysfunctional Tear Syndrome, is an extremely common condition. A 2012 Gallup poll showed that more than 26 million Americans suffer from dry eye syndrome and this number is expected to grow to more than 29 million over the next ten years.
It might sound counterintuitive but if you suffer from watery eyes, you also might have dry eye syndrome. How can this happen? Well, the dryness on the surface of the eye will often cause an over stimulation of tears as a protective reflex. But this moisture does not stay on the eye long enough to correct the underlying dryness.
Importance of Our Tears
A normal tear is made up of three things: an oily (lipid) component, a watery (aqueous) component and a mucous-like (mucin) component. Each of these elements serves its own important purpose and each one is produced by different glands on or near your eye. If there is an issue with any of these sources of tears, dry eyes can occur in differing severity, depending on which component isn’t doing its job properly.
If you recognize any of the symptoms mentioned above and find yourself suffering from chronic dry eyes, it’s important to recognize the situations that are causing your symptoms and then avoid them to prevent any further issues.
Protective eye wear can also be an important deterrent to dry eyes. Be sure to ask your eye care professional about wrap-around sunglasses and protective shields for the tops and/or sides of your glasses. This can help keep the wind and dry air for irritating your eyes.
If you spend much of your time reading and/or working on a computer, you are more susceptible to dry eyes. It’s important to take breaks during long tasks where you must have intense visual concentration. Close your eyes or blink repeatedly to help spread your tears evenly and insure your eyes are coated with moisture. You can also position your computer monitor below eye level. This will allow you to not have to open your eyes as wide to see the screen and focus, which slows the evaporation of your tears in between blinking.
LASIK in Orange County
Just like any health checkup, it is important to get your eyes checked regularly. If you suffer from chronic dry eyes, visit Dr. Ghosheh and his team at Advanced Eye Medical. Don’t let issues with your vision become a more serious health issue. For more information on dry eye treatment and LASIK in Orange County, schedule your consultation today.