Dry Eye
Dry eye syndrome is a condition in which tear-film evaporation runs high or tear production runs low. It can appear at any age and in otherwise healthy people, though it grows more common with age as the eye makes fewer tears.
Dry eye is one of the most common reasons people feel their eyes are tired, gritty or watery, and also one of the most under-treated. In some parts of the world, vitamin A deficiency from malnutrition makes it far more common still.
At My Vision Eye Care, if an examination suggests your eyes are dry, we advise specific tests to diagnose the condition and grade its severity. Those results tell us whether treatment should begin, and which type of treatment is likely to bring you the most relief.
Dry Eye — your questions answered
What are the signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome?
A person with dry eye may experience:
- A stinging or burning sensation in the eyes
- A feeling of dryness, grittiness or soreness
- Stringy mucus in or around the eyes
- Sensitivity to smoke, wind and light (photophobia)
- Redness and eye fatigue, even after short reading
- Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
- Excessive tearing (watering, especially in wind)
- Blurred vision — usually worse towards the end of the day — or double vision
- Eyelids sticking together on waking
What causes dry eyes?
- Excessive smartphone and screen use, in both children and adults
- The natural ageing process (especially menopause in women)
- Side effects of medications — antihistamines, antidepressants, some blood-pressure and Parkinson’s medicines, and birth-control pills
- Dry, dusty or windy climates
- Air conditioning or dry heating at home or the office
- Insufficient blinking while staring at a screen or TV
- Long-term contact lens wear
- Systemic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ocular rosacea or Sjögren’s syndrome
- Incomplete eyelid closure, eyelid disease, or a deficiency of the tear-producing glands
Related care
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