7 Common Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eyes | Dry Eye Causes

The problem of dry eyes occurs when your tears cannot provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. In such cases, your tears might be inadequate or unstable for various reasons. For example, if you don’t produce sufficient tears or have poor quality tears, dry eyes may occur. The tear instability causes inflammation and damage to the surface of your eyes.

If you have dry eyes, you experience discomfort because your eyes may sting or burn. For example, you might experience dry eyes in airplanes, in air-conditioned rooms, while riding a bike, or looking at a computer screen for several hours.

Getting dry eyes treatment from a dry eye clinic near you can make you more comfortable. The treatments include lifestyle changes and eyedrops. You will need to adopt these measures indefinitely to manage the symptoms of dry eyes.

Common Symptoms of Dry Eyes

Here are the common signs and symptoms of dry eyes, which affect both your eyes:

1. A stinging, burning, or scratchy sensation in your eyes.
2. You will likely notice stringy mucus in and around your eyes.
3. Besides experiencing sensitivity to light and redness, you might have a sensation of having something in your eyes.
4. You experience challenges wearing contact lenses.
5. Nighttime driving becomes challenging.
6. You experience watery eyes, which is your body’s response to the irritation in your eyes.
7. You might experience blurred vision or eye fatigue.

If you have prolonged signs and symptoms of dry eyes, including irritated, tired, painful, and red eyes, you must seek treatment for the condition from dry eye treatment. Your eye doctor can take steps to determine what bothers your eyes and recommend the appropriate treatment.

Causes of Dry Eyes

Disruption of the healthy tear film caused by various reasons is the prime culprit for dry eyes. Your tear film has three layers comprising fatty oils, aqueous fluid, and mucus. The three years combine to generally keep the surface of your eyes lubricated, smooth, and clear. However, if you develop problems with any layers, you become prone to dry eyes.

There are many reasons for tear film dysfunction, including autoimmune disease, hormonal changes, inflamed eyelids glands, or allergic eye disease. Decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation are also reasons for dry eyes in many people.

Decreased Tear Production

If you cannot produce sufficient aqueous liquid, you might experience dry eyes. The medical term for this condition is called keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Familiar reasons for decreased tear production include aging, medical conditions like allergic eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and thyroid disorders.

Medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and drugs for high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease can also cause decreased tear production.

Increased Tear Evaporation

Blockage of the meibomian glands on the edge of your eyelids blocking the oil film is the primary reason for increased tear evaporation. Meibomian gland blockage is common among people with rosacea and other skin disorders. The common reasons for increased tear evaporation include meibomian gland dysfunction, blinking less often that occurs with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, eye allergies, vitamin A deficiency, and preservatives in topical eye drops.

Complications of Having Dry Eyes

If you have dry eyes, you might experience complications like eye infections because you don’t have adequate production of tears. If you leave the condition untreated, especially with severe dry eyes, the problem might lead to eye inflammation, abrasion of the corneal surface, and vision loss. Dry eyes also make you prone to decreased quality of life because you find it challenging to perform everyday activities like reading.

Risk Factors Associated with Dry Eyes

You will likely experience dry eyes if you are over 50 because tear production reduces as you get older. Women also experience dry eyes because of hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause. In addition, having a diet low in vitamin A or omega-3 fatty acids and wearing contact lenses with a history of refractive surgery are some risk factors associated with dry eyes.

If you find your quality of life diminishing because of dry eyes, you do not have to endure the condition because you can seek treatment from our Seton eye clinic, providing various remedies and advice on how to keep your eyes moist and avoid the triggers that cause dry eyes. The therapy provided delivers comfort and helps to improve your quality of life.

Visit an Eye Clinic Near You

Premier eye care — Seton provides dry eye treatment in Calgary. If you experience these conditions, kindly schedule an appointment with us to find relief from the problem.