Dry eyes usually occur when a person’s tears in their eyes are not sufficiently lubricating them. The inadequacy of tears can be due to a number of reasons. For some, dry eye conditions can result in increases in their teardrops, while for others it decreases their tear production resulting in a faster level of tear evaporation.
The following are some of the most common reasons for decreased tear production in the eyes:
- With aging, especially before or after menopause.
- Due to some medical conditions such as lupus, vitamin A deficiency, thyroid disorder, diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis, to name a few.
- As a result of some medications like antidepressants, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, high blood pressure medicines, etc.
- After some medical treatments, such as laser eye treatment or radiation.
On the other hand, the following are some of the reasons that result in increased tear evaporation:
- Dry air, smoke, and wind
- Indulging in an activity which requires a high level of concentration and as a result, blinking less often, for instance, gaming, driving, reading, etc.
- Due to problems in the eyelids that causes them to out-turn the lids (ectropion), and in-turn them (entropion).
If you endure situations closely linked with causing dry eyes, following are some preventive measures for dry eyes symptoms:
- Firstly, try to avert air directly in your eyes, so try to divert car heaters, fans, hair dryers, and fans from your eyes whenever possible. Install a humidifier in your room, especially during the winter.
- Moreover, wearing protective eyewear or wraparound sunglasses to shield your eyes from dry air can significantly reduce the risk of dry eye. Apart from that, be mindful in taking breaks during tasks that require long hours of visual concentration. You can do this by rapidly blinking your eyes for a few seconds to ensure that the teardrops spread evenly. Or, you can close your eyes for a couple of minutes to give them some rest.
- Furthermore, you should take special care of your eyes in specific environmental conditions, such as desert areas, while traveling in airplanes, or hiking at high altitudes. Regularly closing your eyes for a couple of minutes can naturally minimize tears from being evaporated.
- In addition, make sure to place your computer screen below eye level. The reason being, if the screen of your computer is above eye level, you will most likely open your eyes wider to watch your screen. So, positioning the computer screen below eye level can reduce eye evaporation as they would not be open as wide.
- Lastly, using artificial tears regularly to lubricate your eyes is a good way to ease the irritation and discomfort when experiencing dry eyes.
Some individuals tend to experience sting and burn in their eyes when suffering from dry eyes. You can relieve chronic dry eyes with appropriate treatments, such as changing lifestyles or using eye drops. Ideally, visit your eye specialist to identify the causes of dry eyes.
