If you’ve ever felt that awful, itchy feeling when your face gets dry, you know how painful it can be.
Dry eye can happen to anyone, but more than 16 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with dry eye, a chronic condition that can negatively affect your health and can even be caused by minor irritations that go undiagnosed. .
People with dry eyes may experience a variety of symptoms, including eye pain, discomfort, watery eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and more.
Unfortunately, if left untreated, dry eye can worsen over time and potentially cause permanent symptoms that can affect your daily life.
Read more about the causes of dry eyes and what treatments are available.
What happens to your eyes when they become dry?
When you are active, the glands around your eyes produce tears. These tears spread across your face and act as a protective layer, providing moisture, eliminating particles that could cause infection or irritation, and preventing your tears from breathing. It’s called the tear film and consists of three parts: the inner tear layer, the middle water layer, and the outer oil layer. These tears also contain more than 2,000 proteins and nutrients that help the eye continually repair itself against injuries, infections, and inflammation.
If one or more of these components in the tear film do not function properly, dry eyes can occur.
There are two types of dry eye: aspiration and dehydration. Dry eye disease means that tears do not stay on the surface of the eye long enough and dry out quickly. In dry eye diseases, your body does not produce enough tears to keep your eyes moist. Most people will have a combination of these two types.
Who is at risk of dry eye?
People with health problems such as diabetes, thyroid problems, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases are at higher risk of developing dry eyes.
Dry eyes are more common in people over the age of 50, but in recent years dry eyes have become more common in younger people. People who were female at birth (AFAB) are also more likely than men to have this condition. Menopause also increases risk due to hormonal changes.
Did you know?
Race and breed may also play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye. Research shows that dry eyes are more common in people of Asian descent. And in one study, black, Asian and Hispanic people experience more severe dry eye symptoms, have less access to treatment and are less likely to seek treatment than white people.
Environmental conditions such as exposure to pollution, chemical fumes, and cigarette smoke can increase the risk of dry eyes, especially for those who work outdoors. In one study, participants working outdoors were divided into groups with higher rates of dry mouth. Dry eyes were detected in 6 of the 10 participants who smoked tobacco.
Other possible causes of dry eyes include:
Wearing contact lenses
Medications such as diuretics (water pills), cold and allergy medications, and antidepressants
Some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus and Sjögren’s syndrome
You’ve had LASIK or cataract surgery
View or focus over long distances without blinking
Excessive screen usage
Living in dry and windy conditions
What are the symptoms of dry skin disease?
If you suffer from dry eyes, you may experience a variety of symptoms, including:
Feeling like there’s something on your face
Emotions are intense or mild
Red, bruised or burned
Light
Changes in your direction
Blurred vision (especially when reading)
General eye soreness or pain when wearing contact lenses
Eyes of water
Mucus infection in or around your eye
Fatigue
What types of dry eye treatments are available?
For years, treatment for dry eyes consisted of artificial tears designed to protect, lubricate, and relieve symptoms. Although artificial tears may help some people, other treatment options are now available. These include over-the-counter and prescription methods that can treat dry eyes in a variety of ways, such as soothing the eyes, increasing tears, or reducing inflammation.
Research is being conducted on supplements/vitamins for dry eye disease. But some vitamins and supplements can help relieve dry eye symptoms. Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as sardines, salmon and tuna, may cause the glands to produce more tears. Some studies have shown that taking vitamin D supplements may improve eye health and increase the effectiveness of eye drops. Other studies have shown that taking vitamin A may help improve the tear film and lubrication in your eyes.
Dry eye symptoms may vary from person to person and even from person to person. It can be difficult to diagnose without consulting an eye specialist, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist, who can use thelatest equipment to examine your eyes accurately. Misdiagnosis, lack of clear diagnostic criteria, and lack of a one-size-fits-all treatment can make dry eye disease difficult to treat.
Dry eyes can be painful if you have mild symptoms. However, if you have a moderate to severe problem, it can make your life difficult and affect your daily life, financial life and thinking.
What works for one person with dry eyes may not work for another. Talk to an eye specialist about your symptoms and try to get help if treatment doesn’t work.