Dry Eye: A Daily Discomfort

What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eyes are caused by insufficient tear production and poor tear drainage. Tear production can diminish due to age, use of certain medications, or as a side effect of a medical condition. When fewer tears are produced or the tears evaporate too quickly, dry eye syndrome is the result.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

• Gritty feeling
• Redness
• Itching or burning
• Foreign object sensation in the eye
• Short periods of excessive tears
• Stringy discharge
• Sensitivity to light
• Discomfort during contact lens wear
• Excessive glare around lights (particularly at night)

What Causes Dry Eye?

There are a number of factors that could influence your eye health and result in dry eye.

• Age: Tear production naturally decreases with age, which is why dry eye tends to affect older adults.
• Medications: Certain medications can inhibit tear production, including antihistamines, blood pressure medication, oral contraceptives, and antidepressants.
• Medical conditions: Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, blepharitis, thyroid problems, and other conditions can reduce tear production.
• Environmental factors: Exposure to smoke and wind can quickly dry out eyes.
• Refractive surgery: Dry eye syndrome is also a potential side effect of refractive surgery procedures like LASIK.

Dry eye typically boils down to one of two biological problems.