What Causes Dry Eyes?

While you may pride yourself in excellent health, would you recall when the last time you had an eye checkup was? Often people overlook their eyes’ health until they have an underlying problem that needs urgent medical attention. Unfortunately, it can be too late for your eyes that you need drastic dry eye treatment measures, even with manageable eyes problems like dry eye syndrome.

What Are Dry Eyes?

They are eyes that get itchy, reddish, and even painful because of a condition that causes excessive dryness in the eyes. The medical term for this condition is keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It occurs when you have a significantly low production of fluids in your eyes, commonly due to blocked or dysfunctional tear ducts. The tear ducts in your eyes are there to ensure that the organs remain moist at all times. If your eyes are not moist enough, they cannot function optimally as they should.

Importance of Tears for the Eyes

Tears comprise oils, nutrients, and other fluids that help keep the eyes functional. When the tear film in your eyes is damaged, there will not be enough quality tears for your eyes. Without sufficient tears, many functions of the eyes will be derailed, starting with swift mobility. The same applies when the quality of your tears lowers. It is why the eyes naturally close repeatedly throughout the day, also called blinking. Blinking helps evenly spread tears throughout an eye ensuring it is nourished and moisturized.

Common Causes of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes is a common condition today, with a prevalence that keeps escalating with age. The causes vary from one person to another, the common ones being the following:

1. Eye allergies
2. Hormonal imbalances – common during pregnancy, menopause, or with the prolonged intake of hormonal contraceptives.
3. Getting old – unfortunately, the older you get, the lower the production of high-quality tears in sufficient amounts.
4. Exposure to adverse environmental factors – for example, being in a smoky environment or exposing yourself to too much dry air or wind.
5. Overuse or misuse of contact lenses
6. Nerve damage post-eye surgery – although it is rare to incur nerve damage after surgery, it can still happen.

Who Is Most Likely to Get Dry Eye Syndrome?

Many optometrists in 80104 will tell you that anyone can have dry eye syndrome. However, this condition is more prevalent among some groups of people:

1. Adults over 55 years
2. Workers in industrial centers where smoke, dust, and other pollutants are present in high amounts.
3. People who work behind a screen for long hours – including coders, writers, and gamers.
4. Motorbike racers – especially amateur racers that do not wear protective gear.

How to Know You Have Dry Eyes

Like with all other health conditions, identifying the symptoms linked to a health problem can help you know whether you have it too. Some common indicators of dry eyes are:

1. Increased sensitivity to light
2. Reddened, swollen, and itchy eyes
3. Eye fatigue
4. Blurry vision
5. Watery eyes
6. A burning sensation in your eyes – accompanied by the urge to keep closing your eyes or sleep.

Can Dry Eyes Be Prevented?

Our optometrist in Castle Rock suggests different aspects that can help prevent your eyes from getting excessively dry, including the following:

1. Wear protective eyewear – visit us at Founders Eyecare for recommendations on eyeglasses that work great for protecting your eyes. Wraparound sunglasses, for instance, are perfect for bikers and racers who love the thrill of speedy rides in the wind.
2. Use a humidifier – whether at home or in your office. The humidifier helps increase moisture content in the air, which will prove very useful, especially during winter seasons.
3. Rest – especially one that involves keeping your eyes closed for some time. It can be sleeping, meditating, among other things. Besides that, you can make blinking intentional, especially if you stare at a screen for long hours.
4. Get a prescription – sometimes, you need to supplement your natural tears with artificial tears. It is an incredible option for patients with chronic dry eye syndrome.

If you are looking for dry eyes treatment in Castle Rock, CO, you can call or book your appointment with Founders Eyecare today!