If you suffer from dry eyes, you might notice stinging, redness, or a gritty feeling in your eyes. A dry eye could be brief or persistent. It happens once tear glands generate insufficient tears or when tears evaporate too soon. An unaddressed chronic dry eye could stem from various complications, ranging from infections to double vision. Luckily, relief from dry eyes edgewater is easily accessible. Some patients notice an improvement in symptoms with a prescription or over-the-counter eye drops, as well as home remedies. Nonetheless, it is also essential to comprehend the underlying reasons to avoid or control them. Here are the seven major causes of dry eyes.
1. Age
Vision and eyes undergo numerous changes as a result of the process of aging. One of these shifts involves a decrease in tear production. Studies show that most persons above 65 years develop dry eyes, which impacts their nighttime driving and light sensitivity.
2. Health Concerns
Health concerns could also cause dry eyes. For instance, Sjogren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the body’s capacity to create moisture (especially in the salivary glands and eyes). Other health concerns such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma (in which the body develops aberrant clusters of inflammatory cells), and thyroid disorders could also trigger dry eyes.
3. Medication
The components of tears are water, mucus, and oil. Nevertheless, specific drugs could inhibit mucus production and lead to persistent dry eye. These medications include diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and beta-blockers utilized to address hypertension. Consult your physician if you take medicine and have eye dryness. Request a different drug or a lower dose to correct your dry eyes.
4. History Of Refractive Surgery
Patients who have undergone LASIK or other refractive operations (the majority of which entail changing the form of the cornea with a laser) are more prone to experience dry eyes. Typically, this kind of dry eye is transient and resolves within a few days or weeks. Utilize lubricating eye drops to keep your eyes moist till they heal.
5. Allergies
Antihistamines taken orally are among the leading causes of allergy-related dry eyes. These drugs limit the amount of tears that are generated naturally. Moreover, allergic conjunctivitis (irritation and inflammation of the eye tissue) could lead the body to generate ineffective tears.
6. Meibomian Gland Disorder (MGD)
Meibomian glands are small oil glands located on the eyelid margins. They release oils that cover the eye’s surface and prevent the evaporation of natural tears. Together, the oils and water produced by these glands form the coating known as a tear film.
Inflammation or obstruction of the glands disrupts the tear film, resulting in blurred vision and dry eyes. Left untreated, this obstruction causes fast tear evaporation, which can result in irritation, discomfort, and loss of gland.
7. Gender
Surprisingly, women have chronic dry eye and dry eye disease (commonly known as DED) more often than males. Women suffer these concerns because of hormonal changes during menopause or pregnancy and when using hormone drugs or contraception.
Dry eye illness could damage much more than your eyes’ well-being. It can hinder your capacity to work, interact with others, and enjoy life. Additionally, dry eyes might affect your mental and emotional health. If you have tried numerous treatments and tactics at home without success, it could be time to contact an eye care professional. Your doctor can direct you to the cause of your dryness, whether it is a shortage of tears or ineffective tears, and suggest the most appropriate treatment options.