What Causes Dry Eye? 4 Symptoms to Be on the Lookout For

Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when a person’s tears are not able to provide the necessary lubrication for their eyes. People with this condition may experience stinging or redness, as well as a gritty sensation in their eyes. It can be temporary or chronic and cause result in a range of other complications such as infections and double vision.

If you suffer from dry eye, then this blog post is for you. He will look at what causes dry eye syndrome, from computer use and medication to aging and wind exposure. Let’s get started on what are the causes of dry eyes.

Computer Use

More and more people are using computers in their daily work, which can contribute to dry eye as well as tension headaches and eyestrain. The reason for experiencing this is that people tend to blink less often when they work at a computer. Because of this, tears evaporate more quickly than they normally would.

To address this, you can focus on blinking more frequently when working at a computer. Taking regular breaks away from the computer is also helpful. Using artificial tears while working at your computer is another effective remedy.

Medication

Certain medications impact mucus production, which is partly what tears are comprised of (along with water and oil), and contribute to dry eye. Antidepressants, antihistamines, and diuretics are all examples of medications that can result in people experiencing dry eye.

Speak to your doctor if you experience dry eye while taking medication or consider using artificial tears to keep your eyes lubricated. You may be able to find an alternative medication or switch to a lower dose.

Aging

As you become older, you may notice that dry eye is becoming a more frequent issue. This is because tear production declines. People over the age of 50 are more likely to experience dry eye than younger people (though it can affect people of all ages).

The use of using artificial tears on a regular basis is encouraged if you suffer from chronic dry eye.

Wind Exposure

Exposure to high winds and cold climates is another trigger of dry eye as it results in tears evaporating too quickly. Wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes in these conditions and using lubricating eye drops is recommended.

Interested in learning more about how to treat the symptoms of dry eye? Click to find more information here.

What Causes Dry Eye?

Other common causes of dry eye include allergies, dehydration, low humidity, contacts, smoke, Blepharitis, laser surgery, menopause, vitamin A deficiency, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

We recommend that you speak to your doctor to learn more about what causes dry eyes and the most appropriate treatment options for you. Like this blog post on what causes dry eye? Be sure to check out our other informative articles on a wide range of interesting topics.