Dry eyes, or dry eye disease, is a common condition that affects more than 16 million U.S. adults. It causes the eyes to feel dry, itchy, or irritated, and is often related to problems with tear production or quality.
If you regularly experience dry eyes, it’s normal to wonder what you can do to feel better. While over-the-counter eyedrops can provide temporary relief, they typically aren’t enough to permanently ease symptoms.
Our team of ophthalmologists at Eye Surgeons Associates, which serves patients in Canton, Livonia, and Monroe, Michigan, specializes in diagnosing and treating dry eye.
Read on to learn about common causes of dry eye, so you can get the help you need.
Dry eye is a chronic condition that occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or the tears they produce don’t adequately lubricate your eyes. Because tears help lubricate and protect the eyes’ surface, dry eye can cause discomfort, especially when blinking.
Many people consider dry eye a minor annoyance, but if it persists for months or even years, it can make routine activities such as reading, using a computer, or going outdoors painful. It can also cause blurry vision or excessive tearing.
Interestingly, dry eye isn’t due to one single factor. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes:
Your lacrimal glands naturally produce enough tears to keep your eyes hydrated, but this production declines over time due to aging. As a result, many people develop dry eyes after turning 50 or when hormone-related changes happen, such as those tied to perimenopause or menopause.
Sometimes, underlying medical conditions impact tear production. For example, the autoimmune disease Sjögren’s syndrome causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the lacrimal glands, reducing tear production and resulting in dry eye and irritation.
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition that affects about 35% of people worldwide. It causes the meibomian glands, small glands that line the eyelids and produce oil, to become clogged. Since the oil these glands produce helps prevent tears from evaporating, any decline in their output can lead to dry eye, irritation, and redness.
Many people with dry eye notice their symptoms worsen in the spring when trees, flowers, and grasses release their pollen. However, other environmental factors can be just as irritating, including wind, smoke, and pollution.
If you spend lots of time outside, you likely can’t avoid these triggers altogether, but you can take steps to reduce exposure. We recommend wearing sunglasses or other protective eyewear and staying indoors if there’s smoke or other irritants in the environment.
Nearly 70% of Americans take at least one prescription medication. Although side effects vary from drug to drug, a commonly overlooked one is dry eye. Certain classes of medication are more likely to cause dry eye than others, including:
If you suspect one of the medications you take could be contributing to your symptoms, we can coordinate care with your primary care doctor to find an alternative.
Activities such as using your smartphone or working at a computer don’t seem outwardly strenuous, but they can take a toll on your eyes. Research shows that looking at electronic screens may reduce blinking by up to 50%, causing your tears to evaporate more quickly.
Other factors, such as poor eyelid hygiene or wearing contacts for extended periods, can have similarly detrimental effects by drying out your eyes and increasing the risk of irritation.
Are dry eyes making it difficult to work, read, or do other activities? If so, it’s important to identify the cause, so you can take action to feel better.
The best way to get started is by scheduling an eye exam. Call your nearest Eye Surgeons Associates office to make an appointment. Afterward, we can make personalized treatment recommendations to support tear production and improve tear stability.
