How our Eyes Dry

Do dry eyes bother you

More than half the people who wear contact lenses experience dry eyes at some point.

The eyes are coated by a thin film of tears made up of water,lipids (oil),mucin,nutrients and minerals.However,some people have a disturbance in this tear film and suffer from dry eyes.This abnormality disrupts the ocular surface and causes a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

Causes of dry eyes

Aqueous (watery) tear deficiency is caused by either poor production of watery tears or excessive evaporation of the watery tear layer.Poor production of tears by the tear glands can result with age,hormonal changes,or various autoimmune diseases,such as primary Sjgrens syndrome,rheumatoid arthritis,or lupus.Evaporative loss of the watery tear layer is usually a result of an insufficient overlying lipid layer.

If blinking is decreased or if the eyelids are not closed fully between blinks,the eyes may dry out because of tear evaporation.A person may not blink as often while reading,watching TV or working on the computer.This decreased blinking causes excessive evaporation of tears.
Certain conditions,such as stroke or Bells Palsy might make it difficult to close the eyes,so the eyes become dry from tear evaporation.Sometimes,an infection is present along the eyelids or the eyelashes called blepharitis.The bacteria may break down the oil,and may lead to evaporative loss of tears and dry eyes.

People at risk

More than half the people who wear contact lenses experience dry eyes at some point,besides those who watch excessive TV or use computers for long stretches in dry,airconditioned rooms.

Symptoms

Aperson suffering from dry eye syndrome may experience dry,gritty or scratchy feeling,burning or itching,redness of the eyes (conjunctivitis),blurred vision,foreign body sensation and light sensitivity.Symptoms worsen in dry or windy weather and in higher temperatures and lower humidity.

Treatment

Although no cure exists for dry eye syndrome,many remedies are available.

Eye drops:

Lubricating eye drops,commonly referred to as artificial tears,relieve dry eyes.

Punctum plugs:These thin,invisible cylindrical devices block the tear passage so that eye drops stay in the eye for a longer time.
Others report improvement with a humidifier and eye drops.Some might require surgery to correct this condition.Avoid sitting for long hours reading,watching TV or working on the computer. Refer