The underlying cause could be as simple as weather change which will often resolve itself within a few weeks. But if it doesn't a visit to our office will help determine what the cause might be.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Tears bathe the eye, washing out dust and debris and keeping the eye moist. They also contain enzymes that neutralize the microorganisms that colonize the eye. Tears are essential for good eye health.
In dry eye syndrome, the lacrimal gland or associated glands near the eye don't produce enough tears, or the tears have a chemical composition that causes them to evaporate too quickly.
Dry eye syndrome has several causes. It occurs as a part of the natural aging process, especially during menopause; as a side effect of many medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, certain blood pressure medicines, Parkinson's medications and birth control pills; or because you live in a dry, dusty or windy climate.
If your home or office has air conditioning or a dry heating system, that too can dry out your eyes. Another cause is insufficient blinking, such as when you're staring at a computer screen all day.
Dry eyes also are a symptom of systemic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ocular rosacea or Sjogren's syndrome (a triad of dry eyes, dry mouth and rheumatoid arthritis or lupus).
Long-term contact lens wear is another cause; in fact, dry eyes are the most common complaint among contact lens wearers.
Recent research indicates that contact lens wear and dry eyes can be a vicious cycle. Dry eye syndrome makes contact lenses feel uncomfortable, and evaporation of moisture from contact lenses worsens dry eye symptoms.
Incomplete closure of the eyelids, eyelid disease and a deficiency of the tear-producing glands are other causes.
Dry eyes feel uncomfortable. If you have dry eyes, your eyes may sting or burn. You may experience dry eyes in certain situations, such as on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room or after looking at a computer screen for a few hours.
Dry eyes treatments may make you more comfortable. Dry eyes treatments can include lifestyle changes and eyedrops. For more serious cases of dry eyes, surgery may be an option.
So is your city one of the top spots for dry eyes? Check out the chart below to find out:
The National Women's Health Resource Center has named the top 100 dry eye hot spots in the United States based on information compiled from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climatic Data Center and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Factors used in the selection process included temperatures, humidity, wind, altitude, pollutants and ocular allergens.
The top 20 U.S. cities named as dry eye hot spots are:
| 1. Las Vegas, Nev. 2. Lubbock, Texas* 2. El Paso, Texas* 4. Midland/Odessa, Texas 5. Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 6. Atlanta, Ga. 7. Salt Lake City, Utah | 8. Phoenix, Ariz. 9. Amarillo, Texas 10. Honolulu, Hawaii 11. Oklahoma City, Okla. 12. Albuquerque, N.M. 13. Tucson, Ariz. 14. Norfolk, Va. | 15. Newark, N.J. 16. Boston, Mass. 17. Denver, Colo. 18. Pittsburgh, Pa. 19. Bakersfield, Calif.* 19. Wichita, Kan.* |
Dry Eye Syndrome Symptoms
Persistent dryness, scratchiness and a burning sensation in your eyes are symptoms of dry eyes. These symptoms alone may prompt your eye doctor to diagnose dry eye syndrome.
But sometimes your eye doctor may want to measure the amount of tears in your eyes. A thin strip of filter paper placed under the lower eyelid, called a Schirmer test, is one way to measure tear production.
Another symptom of dry eyes is a "foreign body sensation," the feeling that something is in the eye.
And it may seem odd, but dry eye syndrome can cause watery eyes. This is because dryness on the eye's surface sometimes will overstimulate production of the watery component of your tears as a protective mechanism.
Dry Eye Treatment
Some of the common treatments to start with for eye drops are over the counter moisture drops.Sometimes people use eye drops that are advertised to "get the red out" to treat their dry eyes. While these drops can reduce or eliminate eye redness temporarily, they may or may not be effective at lubricating the eye, depending on the formulation.
Not only that, but the vasoconstrictors in those formulas that reduce redness by contracting the eye's blood vessels are addictive, in the sense that over time, more and more is needed to achieve the same effect. With frequent use, the effect diminishes after a while — the blood vessels simply won't constrict as much as they did when you first used the drops.
If you do buy over the counter moisture drops, check the label, but better yet, check with your optometrist or ophthalmologist before buying any over-the-counter eye drops. It will probably save you a lot of money, because he or she will know which formulas are effective and long-lasting and which ones are not, as well as which eye drops will work with your contact lenses.
Some people also find relief by adding more Omega 3 fatty acids to their diet, in the form of salmon, sardines, herring or even suppliments.
As always, if the symptoms persist, see your doctor. If you have any questions, please feel free to Ask My Eye Doctor here. Or call us at 909-885-1134
Thanks to Web MD, The Mayo Clinic and All About Vision for their helpful information and articles.
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