Dry Eye is actually a group of conditions with a variety of causes. It may result from the eyes producing too little tear fluid, or when tears evaporate from the surface of the eye too rapidly.
Your eyes are a delicately balanced ecosystem in which tears play a large and important role. Every time you blink, tears form a coating that protects and nourishes the eye’s surface.
Decreased tear production is particularly common in older adults, especially women. Some diseases, such as arthritis, can lead to decreased tear production, as can many medications. Increased tear evaporation can result from dysfunction or inflammation within the eyelid margins themselves – a condition called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction – as well as environmental conditions.
Certain activities, such as using a screen – a PC, TV, or smartphone – reading and driving, mean we blink less often than we should, which increases tear evaporation as well as heating and air conditioning. If tear production is reduced, your eyes feel dry, scratchy, and irritated.
Symptoms include:
- Dryness of the eye
- Mucous discharge
- Redness
- Sandy or gritty feeling
- Itching
- Burning
- Constant or occasional tearing
- Watery eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Eye pain or soreness
- Lid infections
- Sties
- Tired eyes
- Contact lens discomfort
- Contact lens solution sensitivity
What can we do?
Mr Puri says;
“Dry eyes are irritating, and at worst, can be painful – and people need not suffer in silence! There are different treatments available, depending on the cause and the symptoms, and these are usually very effective. If you believe you have a problem, I’d urge you to get in touch for a consultation as soon as you can, so that we can start to offer relief.”
