Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease occurs when your eye can’t produce enough tears or when the quality of tears can’t keep the eye lubricated. It is a lack of balance in the tear-flow system. It is a complex eye problem that has many causes.
​5 Common Causes of Dry Eyes
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Aging - as we get older the composition of our tear film alters making our tears less adherent to the surface of the eye causing dryness
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Medication - many drugs (blood pressure drugs, HRT, anti-histamines, and anti-depressants) can cause dry eyes by reducing the mucus and water content of the tears
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Staring at screens - this leads to a reduced rate of blinking and an inefficient moistening action on the surface of the cornea leading to dryness
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Environment - windy conditions, air conditioning in offices, central heating can all make your tear film dry out more quickly
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Other medical conditions - diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroid disease are examples of conditions which reduce tear production
Symptoms
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Redness
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Itchy eyes
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Irritation
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Blurry vision
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Watery/tearing eyes
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Eye fatigue
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Burning eyes
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Foreign body sensation
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Light sensitivity
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Contact lens discomfort
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Stringy mucus in or around eyes
​Tips to Avoid Dry Eyes
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Avoid irritation
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Check drugs that may be a cause
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Be careful with contact lenses
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Drink more water
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Use artificial tears
If you suffer from anything on this list, it is likely that you have dry eye disease. Good news is that it is treatable! We can detect, treat and manage different eye issues. If ever you wanted to ask a question about eye health and vision, now is the time.