We’ve all experienced dry eyes in some form. Dry eyes cause a telltale burning discomfort, redness, itchiness, and tear-inducing feeling associated with staring at a computer for too long, or maybe from seasonal allergies. Either way, chronic dry eyes, or what’s known as dry eye syndrome affects a shocking 5 million Americans when eyes lack adequate lubrication (tears) and moisture on the eye’s surface.
Tear production is the natural eye lubrication that aids clear vision, banishes debris from the surface of the eye, and safeguards the eyes from infection and other health issues (i.e., conjunctivitis). Lack of natural eye lubrication and insufficient tear production is caused by several underlying health issues, including:
1. Environment
Several external or environmental factors can contribute to dry eyes, particularly if you’re prone to seasonal allergies due to tree and plant pollens. Other factors that can trigger the dry, itchy, red, and watery symptoms of dry eyes include overexposure to dry weather, high wind, dry air, and smoke.
2. Eyelid deformities
The structure of the eyelids play a large role in tear production. If eyelids are deformed so that they improperly close, the eyes can be prone to dehydration due to lack of tears, as well as prone to debris and infection.
3. Medications
Dry eyes can often be an uncomfortable side effect of taking medications. For instance, decongestants, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and even some antidepressants can impair healthy tear production and dehydrate the eyes.
4. Lifestyle elements
Those of us who sit staring at a computer screen for multiple hours of the day, know what it’s like to experience dry eyes from lack of blinking (and eye lubrication). Same goes for those who travel in airplanes regularly, as the interior of most planes is often dry and lacking oxygen.
5. Aging
Eye lubrication naturally declines with age, which means many individuals develop dry eyes after the age of 50. Women also tend to develop dry eyes after menopause.
6. Health conditions
Several health conditions (or medications used to treat them) contribute to dry eyes. For instance, patients with lupus, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and like diabetes also suffer with eye dryness.
