Understanding Dry Eyes Causes and Its Common Symptoms
Dry eyes are a common condition that occurs when the tear glands cannot provide sufficient lubrication to the eyes. There can be multiple dry eyes causes. Dry eyes most commonly occur when the eyes cannot produce enough tears or if the tears are of poor quality. The first sign of dry eyes is a sign of discomfort in the eyes. When eyes become dry, they itch, burn, or sting. This can happen when you are in air-conditioning room for a long time, when you are riding a bike without glasses, or when you are working at the computer/mobiles/tablets for hours.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Dry Eyes?
Dry Eyes Causes |
Dry eyes causes are the following symptoms:
- Itching, burning, or stinging sensation in the eyes
- Presence of hardened mucus in or around your eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Redness of the eyes
- A feeling of having something in your eyes even when nothing is there
- Watery eyes
When you have dry eyes, you may also experience the following issues:
- Difficult in using contact lenses: When you have dry eyes, it becomes quite difficult to wear or take off contact lenses. Since the eyes are not lubricated, the lenses may further elevate irritation levels.
- Eye fatigue: Your eyes will feel strained, as a natural response to the constant irritations.
- Difficulty in driving at night: Your eyes will not adapt well to the sudden changes of luminosity experienced while driving at night.
What Are the Primary Dry Eyes Causes?
Dry eyes are caused due to the lack of tears. Tears are a mixture of water, mucus, fatty oils, and antibodies. They are responsible for protecting and lubricating our eyes. They keep the surface of the eyes smooth and lubricated. An imbalance of the chemicals that make up the tears can also cause dry eyes.
#1. Lack Or Reduction Of Tears
The amount of tears secreted by the tear glands decrease as you age. Some medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, scleroderma, vitamin A deficiency, and so on can prevent tear glands from working at all. In addition, some medications such as antidepressants, blood pressure medication, acne medication, birth control pills can reduce or stop tear production. You will also experience a lack of tears after you had a laser eye surgery or had exposure to radiation.
#2. Faster Evaporation Of Tears
Tears can evaporate quickly and make your eyes dry. In this case, dry eyes cause include exposure to dry air, wind, or smoke. Staying in the air conditioner for long can cause this problem. Blinking less frequently can also cause this. This happens when you are concentrating at work. Eyelids problems also lead to faster evaporation of tears are some of the dry eyes causes.
#3. Tear Composition Imbalance
Another Dry eyes cause is the imbalance of the chemicals that make up the tears. This happens due to the ducts of the tear glands clogged. It can be caused either due to bad hygiene or due to hardening of the oils and fats in the duct. This also causes inflammation of the tear gland ducts.
What Are the Possible Complications?
Dry Eyes Causes |
Dry eyes can be an indicator of a number of things. For people over the age of 50, dry eyes are quite common. For women, dry eyes indicate hormonal changes. In addition, diet deficient in vitamin A can cause dry eyes. If you have dry eyes for a prolonged time, it can cause eye infections. Since the tear glands also produce certain antibodies, the lack of the protective film on your eyes can give you eye infections. Dry eyes can cause damage to the surface of the eyes in the long term.
These are some of the dry eyes causes, which in turn can be a big problem if you do not consult with an eye specialist.
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