Dry eye is a condition that is caused by lack of sufficient tear production or sufficient quality tears production. It then leads to inadequate lubrication of the eyes.
Alongside causing inconvenience, dry eyes can also lead to irritation, itchiness, redness and even pain in the eyes.
While you should visit your doctor at Ittefaq Hospital for a proper diagnosis of your condition, it also helps to know some of the common causes of dry eyes. These include:
Air conditioning
Air conditioners leach the moisture out from the air, making it dry, which naturally also then causes dry eyes. You can prevent this by using a humidifier in tandem with the air conditioner.
Age
As our body ages, the performance of our cells tends to drop. One such problem that manifests as a result is dry eyes. Unfortunately, age-related problems cannot be mitigated, as aging is a natural process that no one can avoid.
Autoimmune problems
Autoimmune conditions occur when our immune system attacks our own cells. One such problem that can lead to dry eyes is Sjogren’s syndrome, in which the salivary glands are attacked, and thus tear production is compromised.
Similarly, arthritis can also have an impact on your tear production as well. In arthritis, joint movement becomes painful.
Computer vision syndrome
When we gaze at the screens, we tend to blink less often. It is when we blink that our eyes get washed with tears. So, less blinking then means less lubrication in the eyes, leading then to dry eyes.
Other symptoms of computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain, include head, neck and shoulder aches, sensitivity to light, redness of the eyes, tired eyes etc.
Contact lenses
Sometimes, contact lenses can also lead to dry eyes. However, often the condition occurs from long-term use of contacts. There are lenses available that cater to the issue of dry eyes, and you can ask your doctor about it.
Dehydration
Your body needs fluids to make the tears, and lack thereof thus has implications for your eyes. Thus, if you suspect yourself to be suffering from dehydration due to lesser visits to the loo alongside concentrated peeing, less intake of water, feeling of disorientation and lethargy, then you need to up your hydration game.
Laser
People get laser surgery often for vision correction. One of the drawbacks of this procedure is that it leads to some nerves getting cut off, so consequently, less tears are summoned to the eyes.
The dearth of tears then paves way for dry eyes. Often, the issue resolved as your eyes heal. In the meanwhile, doctors recommend using artificial tears to help with the problem.
Medication
Allergies and the subsequent use of antihistamines can also lead to dry eyes.
Certain medicines like antidepressants, diuretics and similar that cause reduction in the mucus production of the body also lead to dry eyes. It is pertinent that you don’t stop taking the medication but talk to your healthcare provider about these unwanted symptoms.
Menopause
Alongside many other problems caused by menopause, dry eye is also one such issue. Our hormones regulate very many processes in the body, including tear production. Since menopause brings hormonal changes, there are also then problems of insufficient tear production, causing then dry eyes.
Smoking
Smoking wreaks havoc on the body. Alongside jeopardizing the health of your vital organs, it also paves way for dry eyes. Being exposed to secondhand smoke also posits similar risks.
Weather
Your weather also plays a role in promoting dry eyes, since our eyes are directly exposed to the air around us. Windy air leads to greater evaporation of the tears. Similarly, arid conditions can also cause the eyes to dry out.
Weather-induced dry eyes can be prevented by using sunglasses to prevent direct exposure and using artificial tear, but you should also talk to your Eye specialist in Islamabad it.
