Dry Eye: Causes and Symptoms

The eye provides us with vision to see the things around us. The different parts of the eye help in the proper functioning of the eye. We all shed tears when experiencing some emotion, personal problems or while watching an emotional scene in a movie . Other than this, there is another function of tears which is to help in keeping the eye moist and lubricated. Tears are made of three essential things including oils that are needed for lubrication, water which is necessary for moisture, and mucus which sees to it that the tears spread evenly in the eye. It also consists of proteins and antibodies which protects the eye from any kind of infection. These tears are constantly produced by the tear glands, due to which the eye remains wet and smooth, and enables us to see clearly. But sometimes the tear glands stop producing or do not produce enough tears. This causes the condition known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, commonly known as dry eye.

Causes of Dry Eye
Dry eye can be caused due to a variety of reasons. Here are some of them:

• Dry eye is most commonly seen in older people. As a person ages, the secretion of tears by the tear glands starts decreasing, giving rise to dry eyes.
• Hormonal changes also trigger dry eyes. Women are more at risk of having dry eye during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.
• Studies have found that less blinking can give rise to dry eyes. People who watch television or work on the computer constantly, do not blink their eyes as frequently as required. As tears are produced when a person blinks, not blinking frequently can decrease the production of tears, thus leading to the condition of dry eyes.
• Dry eye is also caused due to certain environmental factors. Exposure to dry climate, wind and heat are said to be some of the reasons for developing dry eyes. People who sit for hours in an air conditioned room or are addicted to smoking can have this eye problem.
• Some diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, thyroid diseases, eyelid inflammation, etc. also trigger the condition of dry eyes.
• Dry eyes can occur as a side effect to certain medications too. It is very likely to occur in people who consume antidepressants, acne drugs, antihistamines, birth control pills, etc. It can be caused due to some injury or problem in the area surrounding the eyes.
• Regular use of contact lenses may give rise to dry eyes in people. Performing laser surgery on the eye is another reason leading to dry eye syndrome.

Symptoms of Dry Eye
People suffering from dry eyes are likely to experience dryness and irritation in the eyes. Other symptoms that come along with dry eye include:

• Itchiness
• Burning sensation
• Light sensitivity
• Thready discharge from eyes
• Eyes turning red in color
• Pain in the eyes
• Blurred vision

Other than these symptoms, sometimes people also experience tears flowing from the eyes. This may sound totally opposite to the dry eye condition but this happens as a reaction of the tear glands to itching and irritation and is called reflex tears.

Mild or moderate dry eyes can be treated by applying eye drops to the eyes. These over the counter eye drops help in substituting natural tears in the eyes, thus bringing back the moisture of the eyes. If the condition is very severe, it would be beneficial to consult an eye specialist. Some ways of treating dry eyes are by applying ointments, permanent or temporary punctual occlusion, surgery, etc. One can avoid dry eyes by taking certain precautions, like, wearing sun glasses while going out and applying humidifiers to keep the eyes moistened and lubricated.