Dry eyes feel hot, scratchy, burning, irritated and sandy when you blink. Dry eyes can literally be dry, or paradoxically, eyes that tear too much.
It is a common condition. It usually affects both eyes of pregnant women, women after menopause, and older people. More than sixty percent of people older than 65 are affected to some or other extend.
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People develop dry eye syndrome when the quantity (volume) and/or quality (chemical composition) of tear fluid changes. In some cases the tear glands does not produce enough tears to bathe the eye properly, and the eye feel hot and dry.
If the chemical composition of the tears changes, these changes can make the tear film unstable and result in tiny patches of dryness despite sufficient liquid being present. These tiny patches of dryness produce burning and scratching sensations, which can result in secretion of more “faulty” tears.
With dry eye syndrome the eye feels irritated, gritty and red, and it becomes difficult to cry or wear contact lenses. The eyes may become very sensitive to light. Excessive dryness can scar the cornea, causing blurry vision.
Exposure to smoking, wind and dust and allergy causing substances, and a dry climate can worsen the symptoms.
Dry eye can result from normal ageing, inflammation on the edges of the eyelids (blepharitis), specific diseases like the autoimmune disorder Sjorgren’s syndrome in women, medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, birth control pills, antidepressants and medication to lower blood pressure.
Self treatment
If you suffer from only occasional tearing or dryness of the eyes, with a bit of burning and scratching, try an over-the-counter artificial tear solution. It is best to buy these in boxes of small daily dose plastic vials. These drops can be used as often as necessary as they are just a lubricant and have no side effects.
Do not use ordinary eye drops for reducing redness; some can cause dry eyes.
Where glasses on windy days, avoid smoke. Give your eyes a rest by closing them regularly, or take frequent breaks from reading or your computer.
See a doctor if:
You have severe discomfort.
You your eyelids stick together when you wake in the morning. You may need antibiotics.
Your eyes itch.
The drops do not help after regular administration for several days. You may need a small plug in the corner of your eye to slow tear drainage. In some cases surgical closure of the drainage ducts in the corner of the eyes.
The problem persist for longer than a few weeks. The doctor needs to establish if your dry eyes is one of the symptoms of another disease.
If have any arthritis-like symptoms, stiff or painful joints, or if your mother suffered from these symptoms and dry eyes. You may have a higher risk for auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or Sjorgren’s syndrome.
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