Tears are a natural part of life. They help you express emotion, but beyond that, tears also perform some critical functions, as your eyes need enough tears to stay hydrated and healthy.
When your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when these tears evaporate too quickly, it can result in dry eye syndrome or dry eye. Unfortunately, dry eye is often uncomfortable, with persistent symptoms that are difficult to ignore.
Keep reading to learn more about what dry eye is and how it affects your eyes.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Every time you blink, your tear film moves liquid over your eyes to keep the surface smooth and lubricated. The tear film has three layers: the outer oily layer, the middle watery layer, and the inner mucus layer.
The outer oily layer is produced in the meibomian glands, keeping your eyes smooth and ensuring tears don’t dry too swiftly. The lacrimal glands in the eyelids create the middle watery layer. It makes tears and washes away particles on the eye’s surface.
Finally, the inner mucus layer from the conjunctiva spreads the water later over the eye and ensures the tears can stick to the surface.
If any part of this process is disrupted, it can cause dry eye syndrome. In general, dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly.
What Are The Symptoms Of Dry Eye?
Dry eye symptoms are often uncomfortable and continuous, making them difficult to ignore. The most common signs and symptoms of dry eye include:
- Feeling like your eyes are burning or stinging
- Having blurry vision
- Noticing a gritty feeling like you have something stuck in your eye
- Finding it painful to wear contacts
- Red or irritated eyes
- Having watery eyes
It’s important to note that watery eyes are a common symptom of dry eye, although it might sound counterintuitive. This usually occurs as your eye tries to overcompensate by creating more tears.
What Are Dry Eye Risk Factors?
Dry eye is considered a multifactorial condition. This means it can have many potential causes and risk factors. Because of this, it can take some trial and error to determine what’s causing your dry eye.
Some of the most common risk factors for dry eye include:
- Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus, and other autoimmune conditions
- Certain medications, such as diuretics or sleeping pills
- Blepharitis
- Extended contact lens use
- The climate or environment where you live
During an appointment with Frantz EyeCare, our eye doctors will determine your risk factors to find the right treatments to help you feel more comfortable.
Can Dry Eye Be Treated?
Yes! Many treatment options for dry eye are available. One of the most common treatments is eye drops, including prescription options or artificial tears.
If eye drops don’t work, options such as medications or punctal plugs can keep your eye glands from losing tears.
Dry eye is often difficult and frustrating, making it hard to enjoy daily activities. Because dry eye can have many potential causes and risk factors, it’s crucial to see your ophthalmologist, who can find the cause and an effective treatment.
Explore the treatment options available to you when you schedule an appointment with Frantz EyeCare in Fort Myers, FL, today!
