Suffering from Dry Eyes?

(A) Suffering from dry eyes? - One can have dry eyes when tears evaporate too quickly.

• If the eyes produce too few tears. Dry eyes are common in humans. It can affect either one or both eyes and can lead to inflammation 

(B) Causes - Dry eyes can result from:

• An imbalance in the tear mixture, when it evaporates too fast

• Insufficient tear production for good eye health

• Other causes are eyelid problems, some drugs, and environmental factors.

(C) Symptoms - A patient with dry eye syndrome may experience a wide range of symptoms, such as: 

• A stinging or burning sensation, and a feeling of dryness, grittiness, and soreness in the eyes
• A feeling like sand in the eye
• Stringy mucus in or around the eyes
• Eye sensitivity to smoke or wind
• Redness of the eyes
• Difficulty keeping the eyes open
• Eye fatigue after reading, even for a short time
• Blurred vision, especially towards the end of the day
• Sensitivity to light
• Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
• Tearing
• Double vision
• Eyelids sticking together when waking up 

Some people complain of the pain very strong, and this can lead to frustration, anxiety, and difficulty functioning in daily life.

(D) Complication 

• Most people having mild dry eye syndrome have no long-term problems or complications but severe symptoms can lead to eye inflammation, infection, and damage to the surface of the cornea.
• This damage can lead to scarring or ulceration, which can be painful and affect the patients vision.
• Conjunctivitis, which is caused by the dry eye does not normally require treatment, but if it is acute, long-lasting or recurrent, the patient should seek immediate medical help.

 (E) Using natural tears - Some tips for making the most of natural tears include:

• wearing wraparound glasses for protection from wind and hot air
• consciously blinking more frequently when using the computer or watching TV
• avoiding smoking and smoky places
• keeping room temperature moderate
• using a humidifier in the home to help moisten the air.
• Moisture-chamber spectacles wrap around the eyes like goggles.

(F) Treatment 

The doctor will perform a physical examination and ask the patient about symptoms, their medical history, any current medications, and about their occupation and personal circumstances.

The type of eye drops to use is contingent upon the cause of the dry eye.

Whether the tear film is properly functioning or not, the quantity of tears present behind the eyelid along with the rate of evaporation of tears can be determined by following certain tests.

Treatment aims to keep the eyes well lubricated, but the approach is dependent on the underlying cause.

(G) If you are suffering from any of the above mention symptoms /complications then contact your eye specialist immediately to prevent any further damage.