Dry Eyes And What You Can Do About Them
If Your Eyes Are Dry
- You might feel like you have sand in your eyes, or they might burn or itch.
- You might be sensitive to light, have blurry vision, or, in some cases, your eyes might
water. - You may have a tough time wearing contact lenses.
Your Eyes Need Moisture
- This helps them work the way they’re supposed to & keeps them comfortable
- Your body normally makes moisture for your eyes, but when you can’t or it’s not good
quality that can make your eyes hurt & affect your eyesight.
What Your Tears Do
- They soothe the surface of your eyes & protect them from things like debris & infection.
- Each time you blink, they go over your eyes, then drain into the inner corners of your
eyelids to the back of your nose. - If you don’t make enough good-quality tears, your eyes can be dry & irritated.
Dry Eye Syndrome
-
The second most common kind of dry eye happens because your body doesn’t make
enough tears. - This is called dry eye syndrome or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).
- Many things can cause it.
- Depending on what that is, it can go away on its own or last a long time.
Possible Cause: Age
- The glands that make tears don’t work as well as you age, so you don’t make as many.
- Also, your eyelids begin to sag & that can break the seal against your eyeball that
helps keep in moisture.
Possible Cause: Certain Illnesses
-
One is Autoimmune diseases, when your immune system attacks parts of your body,
can affect your body’s ability to make tears & cause dry eyes. - Examples include lupus & rheumatoid arthritis, as well as Sjogren’s syndrome, which
attacks saliva & tear glands.
Possible Cause: Eye Surgery
-
Dry eyes can be a side effect of cataract surgery & LASIK or PRK surgery, which
correct vision problems. - The nerves that help you make tears can be damaged during these procedures.
- Talk with your doctor about eyedrops & other things that can help.
- For most people, it gets better as your eyes recover.
Evaporative Dry Eye
- If your tears don’t have enough oil in them, they can evaporate (get absorbed into the air)
before your eyes get enough moisture, the most common causes of dry eyes. - This often happens when the glands that give your tears their oily texture are blocked.
- Also called Meibomian gland dysfunction, it’s treated with warm washcloths & lid scrubs that clear away the dead skin, oil & bacteria that can build up & plug the glands.
Tear Duct Infection
-
Also called dacryocystitis, this happens when a tear duct,the small tube that runs down the
length of your nose & connects to your eyelid, gets blocked & bacteria get in the area. - It’s most common in infants, but it can happen at any age.
- Symptoms include pain, redness,swelling, too many tears, discharge from your eye & fever.
- Antibiotics are the most common treatment, but some people need minor surgery to clear
it up.
Medications
- If you have symptoms of dry eyes and take medication, read the label.
- Some drugs, such as antihistamines, beta-blockers & some anti-depressants,
can affect your tears & dry out your eyes. - Talk with your doctor to find out if this is a problem for you.
What Can Make It Worse: Low Humidity
- If there’s not a lot of moisture in the air, in a heated or air-conditioned room or in
an airplane, for example,dry eyes can get even more irritated. - And a lot of wind can do it, too, that includes riding a bike without protective eyewear.
What Can Make It Worse: Too Much Screen Time
- Looking at a computer or phone screen for long periods of time can cause problems
because you’re less likely to blink and get moisture over your eyes.
What Can Make It Worse: Contact Lenses
- They sit inside the tear film, so when that’s dry, it can make it difficult & uncomfortable,
even impossible to wear them. - Talk to your doctor if you’re having trouble with your contacts: It may help to change
solutions or use, lenses made from a different material.
What You Can Do: Artificial Tears
- These aren’t the kind your toddler uses when he’s trying to get away with something.
- These tears come from the drugstore as drops or ointment.
- Some have a chemical that can stop working if you use them too long, but not all have
that. - Talk to your doctor about what may work for you.
What You Can Do: Change Your Diet
- Among other health benefits, flax oil & flax oil capsules also may help keep your eyes
moist.
Prevention
- If your eyes are dry, it’s a good idea to stay away from some things that can irritate them,
like hair dryers, air conditioning, wind, smoke & some chemicals. - Use a humidifier & take regular breaks if you spend long hours at a computer.
- During sports or outdoor activities, use swim or ski goggles or other protective eyewear
that helps you keep moisture around your eyes.
When to Call Your Doctor
- If dry eyes are new to you and you’ve had them for more than a few days, talk with your
doctor. - It’s also a good idea to check with him before you use over-the-counter artificial tears.
- In most cases, dry eyes are more of an annoyance than a health danger, but it’s always
best to be sure.
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