Dry Eyes – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Dry eye happens when tears don’t properly lubricate the eyes. This common condition can make your eyes feel uncomfortable, with symptoms like stinging or burning sensations.

You might notice dry eye in specific situations, such as while flying, in air-conditioned spaces, during bicycle rides, or after extended computer use.

Several treatment approaches can help manage dry eye symptoms. These typically include lifestyle adjustments and lubricating eye drops.

Most people need to continue these treatments long-term to keep symptoms under control.

Common dry eye treatments include:

• Artificial tear drops and ointments
• Prescription medications to reduce inflammation
• Tear duct plugs to prevent drainage
• Light therapy procedures
• Lifestyle changes like taking screen breaks

Many patients find relief by combining different approaches based on the severity of their condition and underlying causes. Your eye care provider can help determine which options might work best for your specific situation.

Signs and Symptoms

Dry eyes typically cause discomfort in both eyes. You might feel a burning, stinging, or scratchy feeling.

Many people notice stringy mucus around their eyes or experience light sensitivity.

Other common symptoms include:

• Redness in the eyes
• Feeling like something is in your eye
• Problems wearing contact lenses
• Trouble driving at night
• Excessive tearing (your body’s way of responding to irritation)
• Blurry vision
• Eye fatigue

These symptoms can range from mild to severe and may get worse in certain environments or after extended screen time.

When to See a Doctor

If you have dry eyes with symptoms like redness, irritation, tiredness, or pain that last a long time, it’s important to visit your healthcare provider.

They can figure out what’s causing your eye problems or send you to an eye specialist if needed.

Why Dry Eyes Happen

Tears have three main parts: oils, water, and mucus. Together, these keep your eyes moist and comfortable.

When you blink, tears spread across your eye surface. Tears come from glands above each eye and drain through small ducts into your nose. This system normally works well, but problems can occur with any part of it.

When You Don’t Make Enough Tears

Sometimes your eyes cannot produce enough watery tears. This happens for several reasons:

• Getting older – tear production often slows with age.
• Health conditions – problems like Sjogren’s syndrome, arthritis, lupus, and thyroid disorders.
• Medications – some drugs reduce tear production, including:
  • Antihistamines and decongestants
  • Blood pressure pills
  • Antidepressants
  • Birth control pills
  • Acne medications

Did you know? After laser eye surgery, you might have temporary dry eyes while your corneal nerves heal.

When Tears Dry Up Too Quickly

Even if you make enough tears, they might evaporate too fast. This often happens when the oil-producing glands in your eyelids get blocked. Without enough oil, the watery part of tears dries up quickly.

Common reasons for fast tear evaporation include:

1. Clogged oil glands (meibomian gland dysfunction).
2. Not blinking enough when using computers or reading.
3. Eyelid problems where lids turn inward or outward.
4. Environmental factors like:
   • Dry, windy weather
   • Smoke
   • Air conditioning

Important note: People with skin conditions like rosacea are more likely to have problems with their oil glands.

Sometimes blinking less often causes dry eyes. This happens during activities requiring concentration and in certain health conditions like Parkinson’s disease.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your chance of dry eyes:

• Age: People over 50 are more likely to experience dry eyes as tear production naturally decreases with age.
• Gender: Women face higher risk, particularly during hormonal changes from:
  • Pregnancy
  • Birth control use
  • Menopause
• Diet: Your eating habits matter. Not getting enough of these nutrients increases risk:
  • Vitamin A (found in liver, carrots, broccoli)
  • Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, walnuts, vegetable oils)
• Eye Treatments: Your risk goes up if you:
  • Wear contact lenses regularly
  • Have had refractive surgery in the past

Potential Problems

Dry eye can lead to several issues if not managed well. These include:

• Increased risk of eye infections: Tears help shield your eyes from harmful germs. When tear production is low, your eyes become more vulnerable to infections.

• Eye surface damage: Untreated dry eye may cause inflammation and scratches on your cornea. In severe cases, corneal ulcers can form and affect your vision.

• Daily activity limitations: Simple tasks like reading can become difficult when dealing with dry eyes, which can affect your day-to-day life.

How to Prevent Dry Eyes

Preventing dry eyes involves simple daily habits that protect your eyes from irritation.

Try these strategies to keep your eyes comfortable:

Protect Your Eyes from Direct Air Flow

• Keep hair dryers, fans, and air conditioners from blowing directly toward your face
• Use a humidifier at home during winter months to add moisture to indoor air
• Wear wraparound sunglasses or protective eyewear when outdoors, especially on windy days
• Consider adding side shields to regular glasses for extra protection

Adjust Your Habits During Activities

• Take short breaks during reading or screen time
• Close your eyes for a few minutes during these breaks
• Practice blinking more often to help spread tears across your eye surface
• Position computer screens below eye level to reduce how widely you open your eyes

Be Mindful of Challenging Environments

• High altitudes, desert areas, and airplanes have very dry air
• Close your eyes periodically when in these environments
• Use eye drops before entering known dry conditions

Make Lifestyle Adjustments

• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke exposure
• Use artificial tears regularly, even when eyes feel normal
• Follow a consistent schedule for eye drops if you have chronic dry eyes