Dry Eyes-Cause and Prevention

Dry eyes Dry eyes are an irritant that can make you much less comfortable. Your eyes may just be having a bad day, something in your surroundings may be causing the problem, or you may have chronic issues with your eyes. What you should do about them depends on the cause of the problem.
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Symptoms can include,
  • A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation
  • Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Red eyes
  • Feeling like there’s something in your eyes
  • Difficulty wearing contact lenses or driving in low or no light
  • Watery eyes
  • Blurred vision
  • Eye fatigue
Dry eyes are caused by a lack of adequate tears. They are a mixture of water, fatty oils, and mucus. Tears make the surface of your eyes smooth and clear. They also help prevent eye infections. Dry eyes may be due to the fact there may be fewer tears produced, they may evaporate quickly or there’s an imbalance in their makeup. Tear production may drop due to,
  • Aging
  • Medical conditions, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, thyroid disorders and vitamin A deficiency
  • Medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, and drugs for high blood pressure, acne, birth control, and Parkinson's disease
  • Laser eye surgery, though dry eyes should be temporary
  • Harm to tear glands by inflammation or radiation
Tears may evaporate quickly because of eyelid problems, you blink less often or due to wind, smoke or dry air. Their composition may be out of balance because the small glands on the edge of your eyelids producing the oil film for your tears are clogged. Many factors may contribute to your eyes feeling dry, including,
  • You’re older than 50
  • Women are more likely to have them, especially if they have hormonal changes because of pregnancy, use of birth control pills or menopause.
  • Your diet is low in vitamin A (found in liver, carrots, and broccoli) or in omega-3 fatty acids (in fish, walnuts and vegetable oils)
  • You use contact lenses
Dry eyes can cause more than temporary irritations, including eye infections and damage to the surface of your eyes. Dry eyes can cause eye inflammation, abrasion of the eye’s surface, corneal ulcer, and vision problems. You can prevent or limit dry eyes are,
  • Avoid air blowing into your eyes
  • Add moisture to the air, such as with a humidifier
  • Wear wraparound sunglasses or other protective eyewear
  • Take breaks during long periods of visual concentration or if the air is very dry by closing your eyes momentarily or by blinking repeatedly
  • If your computer screen is below eye level your eyes need not be as wide, which should slow tear evaporation
  • Stop smoking and avoid smoke
  • Use artificial tears regularly
If you have questions about dry eyes or feel they’ve become a problem, contact us at 610-437-4988 or fill out our contact form so we can start the conversation and work together to protect your sight and comfort. Houman Ahdieh, MD Lehigh Valley Center for Sight https://www.lvcenter4sight.com eyedoc@lvcenter4sight.com

https://www.lvcenter4sight.com/dry-eyes-cause-and-prevention/

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