What causes dry eyes

What causes dry eyes

Dry eyes can affect people of all ages, sexes and lifestyles, so there’s not usually one cause. Sometimes dry eyes can be a momentary annoyance, while for some people it’s an ongoing affliction. However, for everyone, dry eyes can feel uncomfortable, and at times, very painful.

It’s important to try to find the cause of your dry eyes so that you can find a treatment that eases symptoms and possibly relieves you of dry eyes permanently. So let’s look at what causes dry eyes and how you can treat them.

What causes dry eyes?

There are many different potential causes of a person experiencing dry eyes, some causing temporary discomfort while others are more permanent.

You may feel your eyes becoming dry and itchy temporarily:

• In an air-conditioned room.
• On an aeroplane.
• While riding a bicycle.
• After looking at a screen at close range for a long time.

Usually, when you stop these activities or leave the area, your eyes will start to moisten and feel more comfortable. If you start to experience the itchy, burning or stinging sensation caused by dry eyes more often and without a likely cause, it may be caused by another factor, such as:

• Inflamed eyelid glands.
• Dry eye disease.
• Autoimmune disease.
• Hormone changes.

Each of the above issues causes your body to ineffectively lubricate your eyes, so your eyes begin to feel drier, and your eyelids may burn when you blink as the surface of your eyeball becomes inflamed due to the lack of sufficient fluid. This is caused by the tear film not working properly.

The tear film is made up of three layers – aqueous fluid, fatty oils and mucus – each of which plays a crucial role in moisturising our eyes. If any of these substances are not being produced sufficiently, it can cause dry eyes.

Symptoms of dry eyes

You’ll usually know when you have dry eyes because your eyes will start to feel like they’re burning or stinging, but there are other symptoms to be aware of that you may confuse with other eye problems, such as blepharitis or conjunctivitis.

Symptoms of dry eyes usually affect both eyes and include:

• A stinging, burning or itchy feeling in your eyes.
• Stringy mucus in your eyes.
• Eye redness.
• Feeling like there’s something in your eyes.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Difficulty with nighttime driving.
• Watery eyes are the body’s response to the irritation of dry eyes.
• Blurred vision.
• Tired eyes.
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses.

Are dry eyes a sign of another problem?

Dry eyes can go away on their own or after changing your environment or making simple lifestyle changes, but sometimes, dry eyes don’t seem to go away. If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of dry eyes for several days with no relief, you should see your GP or an eye specialist to check for another condition.

As dry eyes can be caused by hormonal changes and autoimmune conditions, there are many potential causes. Some causes include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Thyroid disorders.
• Lupus.
• Vitamin A deficiency.
• Some medicines such as antihistamines, antidepressants and birth control.
• Hormone replacement therapy.
• Corneal nerve desensitisation caused by laser eye surgery or frequent use of contact lenses.

Although having dry eyes for a prolonged period doesn’t mean you have one of these conditions, you should see a doctor to establish the cause of your dry eyes in case you need to treat an illness, rather than simply the symptoms.

Factors that increase the risk of developing dry eyes

Some people are more likely to experience dry eyes than others, as many different factors, from age to diet, can affect hormonal changes and tear production.

After the age of 50, you’re more likely to experience dry eyes as your body stops producing sufficient tears to lubricate your eyes. People are also more likely to need laser eye surgery or wear contact lenses as they age and their vision fades, both of which can cause dry eyes, although usually temporarily.

Women are also more likely to experience dry eyes in their lives than men because they go through regular hormone fluctuations in their lives, from starting menstruation to taking birth control, going through pregnancy and then the menopause. If you have recently changed birth control or started taking a contraceptive, you should talk to your clinician if you’re experiencing symptoms of dry eyes, as there may be a better alternative for you.

Vitamin A deficiency is also a common cause of dry eyes that often goes unnoticed. Vitamin A is necessary for helping your body fight infection as well as maintaining good vision, so it’s essential to eat foods containing vitamin A to prevent dry eyes. Vitamin A can be found in eggs, liver, spinach and yellow fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, papaya and apricots. If you’re pregnant, check with your clinician before changing your diet too much, as pregnant women are not recommended to eat liver.

Can dry eyes lead to other health problems?

As well as having many potential causes, dry eyes can lead to other eye health problems if left untreated. Eyes need to be damp to make blinking easier as well as rinse our eyes of dust and debris, helping to prevent infections. So if your eyes are dry, you have an increased risk of inflammation and discomfort from blinking, as well as developing eye infections.

With dry eyes, it’s not just your quality of life that will be affected; you should also get them treated as soon as possible for the sake of your eye health.

How to treat dry eyes

You should see your GP or eye specialist if you’re experiencing symptoms of dry eyes, as they may need to treat the underlying cause of your dry eyes, such as a thyroid disorder or vitamin A deficiency, rather than simply treating the symptoms.

If you don’t have another health condition causing dry eyes, it’s likely that your environment or lifestyle is affecting your eye health, so you should try the following steps to help keep your eyes moist.

• Avoid smoky rooms.
• Avoid air conditioning.
• Use a humidifier to prevent the air in your house from being too dry.
• Protect your eyes with glasses in strong winds.
• Reduce the amount of time you spend looking at a screen or take regular breaks from your screen (try the 20-20-20 rule!).
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (at least 1.5 to 2 litres a day).

If these changes to your lifestyle don’t help relieve the symptoms of dry eyes, you can try eye drops, known as artificial tears.

What are artificial tears, and how do they work?

Artificial tears are a type of eye drop to help relieve symptoms of dry eyes. They’re made by multiple brands and are available without a prescription from most pharmacies. Some brands may work better than others for different people, so you may have to try a few before you find one that works well for you. Different brands work in different ways, some lubricating the eyes, others preventing tear evaporation, so it’s best to see an eye specialist before trying artificial tears, so you know the cause of your dry eyes and thus how best to relieve symptoms.

Although tear drops like artificial tears treat the symptoms and not always the cause of dry eyes, they can still be greatly beneficial to use, as they moisturise your eyes, preventing inflammation as well as reducing the risk of developing eye infections as a result of having fewer tears.

You should be aware that some artificial tears contain preservatives, so check the ingredients before use if you have any allergies.

The Eye and Dental Clinic

If you’re experiencing any eye health problems, from dry eyes to chalazion, come to the Eye and Dental Clinic! Based in Bury, Lancashire, we have an expert team of ophthalmologists and dentists ready to treat any and all of your eye and dental care needs.

From routine appointments to emergency treatment, you can rely on us for expert care! Still not sure? Check out our latest news or contact us today for more information.

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