DRY EYE

TREATMENTS

Do you have teary or watery eyes?

Burning, itchiness, or a sandy feeling around your eyelids? You might have dry eye syndrome.

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What Is Dry Eye Syndrome? (DES)

Dry eye syndrome occurs when tear production and drainage are not in balance. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or their tears are of poor quality. The result? Unpleasant symptoms, including itching, burning, redness, watery eyes, excessive tearing—and even eye pain. Dry eye syndrome can also increase your risk for more serious eye problems like corneal ulcers.Without treatment or proper medication, DES can worsen over time.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

While over 80% of dry eye cases are due to blocked oil glands in the eyelids — a condition called meibomian gland dysfunction or evaporative dry eye — other factors can also cause this syndrome. These include:

Gender – the majority of dry eye sufferers are women. This tends to be caused by hormonal changes, whether through the use of contraceptives, pregnancy or menopause.

Age – there’s a higher prevalence of DES in those over 50 years of age

Environment – dry wind, dry air and dry climates can evaporate the tears. Home and car heaters, air conditioners, fans and hair dryers also cause tears to evaporate.

Medication – these include antidepressants, decongestants and blood pressure medications.

Auto-immune disorders – Sjogren’s disease and arthritis, among others.