Millions of people have been diagnosed with dry eye. In fact, it's one of the leading reasons why people visit an eye doctor! Tear production tends to decrease as people get older, making dry eyes more common in individuals over fifty. 

Causes of Chronic Dry Eye

Dry eye is caused by an unhealthy cornea. The underlying cause may be various illnesses, injury, medication, a hormone imbalance, or irritated oil glands. The problem of dry eye has to do with how the tear film works. The cornea is covered by a tear film made up of three layers: water, oil, and mucus. For the eyes to remain moist, the three layers must be balanced.
 
The two main types of dry eye are "aqueous tear-deficient" and "evaporative." Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye is due to a lack of tears, and evaporative dry eye occurs when tears evaporate too fast.

Dry Eye - Temporary or Chronic

If you are dealing with dry eyes, you should determine whether your condition is chronic or temporary. Temporary dry eye can often be attributed to the environment or lifestyle habits. Adjusting some daily habits can usually help to resolve the issue: leaving your contacts in for too long, being outdoors in windy weather, spending long hours staring at a computer, or being in a smoky room can all cause temporary dry eye.
 
Chronic dry eye is not as easy to resolve. If you have dry eye syndrome, changing your habits or environment may not affect your conditiHowever, if. If you have tried changing your lifestyle with no relief, your condition may be due to an underlying condition. Examining the symptoms will help to determine if you have dry eye condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Condition

Symptoms of the condition revolve around tear production; the symptoms you experience will depend on the quantity and quality of tears you produce. Symptoms include a scratchy feeling, eye discharge, too many tears, and extreme sensitivity to wind, smoke, and dry air. Other symptoms can include stinging and burning eyes, a sensation of grit, cloudy or blurry eyesight, eye fatigue, and heavy eyelids.
 

Dry Eyes and Contact Lenses

Many people who wear contacts experience dry eyes. Lack of comfort while wearing contacts is a sign of dry eyes. If your eyes feel dry and scratchy when you wear contacts, you may need to make some changes in the products you use or in your daily routine. Most people find relief when they change to a different type or brand of lens. It can also help to reduce the amount of time that you wear contacts each day. Switching to glasses the moment you get home from work can help.
 

Failure to Blink Properly

Dry eyes are sometimes caused by failure to blink adequately. A low blink rate can affect your ability to perform tasks like reading or computer use. If you find it more difficult to perform tasks that require high focus, it may be due to dry eyes. Taking frequent breaks from your task can usually help with dry eyes that result from failing to blink properly.

Find out more about the signs & symptoms of dry eye, contact Mid-Modern Eyecare in Midland, Michigan, at (989) 349-2259 to book an appointment today!