Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

Tears are essential for maintaining undistorted vision and healthy eyes. They maintain eye moisture and wash away any foreign objects inside the eye. The tear film must be in good working order for the best vision.

Dry Eye Syndrome

A tear film acts as a protective layer covering the eye’s surface. This film, produced by glands around the eye, helps maintain a balanced moisture level. That contributes to both comfort and good vision. However, some individuals may experience a shortage in tear production. That often leads to a condition known as dry eye syndrome, which is one of the most widespread eye problems.

How Tears Work

Tears play an essential role in maintaining the health and clarity of your eyes. They consist of three layers. Each layer serves a specific purpose to keep the eye surface smooth, clean, and moisturized.

The oily layer, produced by the meibomian glands, helps prevent tears from evaporating too quickly. The watery layer, coming from the lacrimal glands in the eyelids, washes away particles and debris from the eye. The mucus layer, produced by the conjunctiva, spreads the watery layer evenly over the eye surface, keeping it lubricated.

Your eyes constantly produce tears to stay hydrated. Yet, sometimes they do not produce enough, leading to dry eye syndrome. That can be due to various factors, such as irritation, medication, or underlying health conditions. Lifestyle changes, medicine, or surgery can help treat this condition in severe cases.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye syndrome can cause various symptoms, such as:

Burn, itch, or sting in the eyes
Blurred vision
Redness of the eyes
Increased sensitivity to light
Watery eyes
Mucus in or around the eyes
A gritty or sandy feeling in the eyes
Discomfort while reading or using a computer for extended periods

Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome stems from various factors, including reduced tear production and increased tear evaporation. The tears consist of three layers, as discussed above. If the glands responsible for producing these elements become inflamed or do not produce enough, it can lead to dry eye syndrome. Additionally, when there is a shortage of these three layers, the tears evaporate quickly, causing the eyes to become dehydrated.

Risk Factors

Dry eye can result from several factors and is more common in specific populations. People over 50 years old and especially women are more likely to experience dry eye. Pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, and menopause can also increase the risk. Other factors include:

Chronic allergies
Exposure to wind or dry air, such as constant use of a heater in the winter
LASIK eye surgery
Some medications, including antihistamines, nasal decongestants, birth control pills, and antidepressants
Long-term contact lens wear
Insufficient blinking
Thyroid disease or other conditions that cause the eyes to protrude
Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune system disorders
Exposure keratitis, caused by sleeping with eyes partially open or medical conditions such as facial nerve palsy or turned-out eyelids, leading to cornea exposure
Vitamin A deficiency, which is rare with proper nutrition

There is also some debate about the impact of blue light from computer screens, with some experts suggesting it may contribute to dry eye. However, according to experts, prolonged computer use can suppress the blink reflex and contribute to dry eyes. Taking breaks and using blue-light-filtering glasses when using computers can help.

Conclusion

If not managed, dry eye can lead to tissue damage and corneal scarring. To treat dry eye, eye doctors take various approaches. These include keeping the eyes moisturized, reducing inflammation, enhancing the work and home environment, assessing overall health, and considering medication and diet changes.

For more on dry eye syndrome, visit Apple Eyecare at our Fort Wayne or Syracuse, Indiana, offices. Call (260) 432-5502 or (574) 457-4476 to schedule an appointment today.