The condition is uncomfortable and it can interfere with your quality of life.
Dry eye disease can vary from mild to extremely severe.
Getting treatment for your dry eyes can make a big difference in easing your discomfort.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verwell
You may experience these symptoms all the time or intermittently.
The tears are similar to the tear production that is triggered when something gets in your eye.
They are called reflex tears.
Complications
Most people who have dry eyes experience mild irritation with no long-term effects.
But if the condition is left untreated or becomes severe, eye damage and even vision loss can occur.
Dry eyes develop when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or don’t produce theright quality of tears.
There are several common factors that lead to dry eye syndrome.
Environmental Factors
Environmental conditions can lead to dry eyes.
This can be especially bothersome if you are frequently exposed to these conditions.
Each time you blink, it coats the eye with tears.
You normally blink about every 12 seconds.
People who play computer games may only blink once or twice during a three-minute time span.
Additionally, anything that causes an issue with the blink reflex can interfere with blinking.
The corneal nerves stimulate tear secretion.
A few of these include:
Autoimmune Diseases
Some autoimmune diseases can affect the tear glands.
If you wearcontact lenses, paying close attention to changing them when necessary is important.
Always read the directions, but these products can generally be used as often as needed throughout the day.
Your healthcare provider can guide you in choosing the right one for you.
Some people use drops for red eyes, but that can make the eyes even drier.
If you wear contact lenses, use drops specifically indicated for use with contact lenses.
Other types of drops may contain ingredients that damage the lens.
Prescription Medications
A number of prescription medications can be used for the treatment of dry eyes.
Cyclosporine helps the eye produce tears, while Xiidra reduces the inflammation that may cause decreased tear production.
Keep in mind that prescription medications can cause side effects and they are not necessarily right for everyone.
Punctal plugs can be inserted into the puncta to block tear drainage, preserving your tears in your eyes.
You may still need to use artificial tears after having a punctal plug insertion.
Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can also cause complications.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is dry eye?
Symptoms, causes and treatment.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Punctal plugs.
2019 Jul;28(4):299-306. doi:10.4037/ajcc2019360.
2019 Feb 18;2019:7029858. doi:10.1155/2019/7029858
