Dry Eye | Bharti Eye Foundation

Dry eye disease, an illness that affects many people, arises when your tears cannot lubricate your eyes sufficiently. There are several different causes of insufficient and unstable tears. For instance, if your tear production is inadequate or of poor quality, dry eyes may develop. The eye becomes inflamed and sustains surface damage as a result of the tears’ instability.

Dry eyes are not comfortable. If you have dry eyes, your eyes may sting or burn. In some circumstances, such as on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room, while riding a bike, or after staring at a computer screen for several hours, you could experience dry eyes.

Causes

There are several things that might disrupt the regular tear film, which leads to dry eyes. Your tear film is made up of three layers: fatty oils, aqueous fluid, and mucus. This mixture frequently maintains your eyes’ lubricated, clear, and smooth surface. Any of these layers may be the cause of dry eyes.

Hormonal changes, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory glands in the eyelids, and allergic eye problems are a few of the factors that contribute to tear film failure. Decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation are the causes of dry eye.

Prevention

• If you suffer from dry eyes, be mindful of the situations that are most likely to worsen them. Determine how to avoid certain situations to stop the dry eye symptoms after that. For instance:
• Try to keep air out of your eyes. Keep fans, air conditioners, car heaters, and hair dryers from beaming directly into your eyes.
• Make the air more humid. Throughout the winter, a humidifier can add moisture to the dry indoor air
• Take into account donning wraparound sunglasses or other safety eyewear. Safety shields can be installed on the tops and sides of eyewear to provide protection from wind and dry air. Ask the store that sells glasses about shields.
• Take breaks for your eyes throughout continuous tasks. If you’re reading or engaging in any activity that demands visual focus, take regular breaks from your eyes.
• Close your eyes for a few minutes. Alternately, blink often for a few seconds to let the tears spread out evenly in your eyes.
• Pay attention to your surroundings. Extremely dry air can be found in aircraft cabins, arid areas, and high altitudes. When in such an environment, it may be beneficial to often close your eyes for a few minutes at a time to avoid tear evaporation.
• Position the computer screen so that it is below your eyes. You will open your eyes wider to observe the computer screen if it is higher than eye level. Place your computer screen below eye level to prevent squinting. In between eye blinks, this may stop your tears from evaporating too quickly.

Treatment

Most people can get away with regular usage of over-the-counter eyedrops if they have minor or infrequent dry eye symptoms (artificial tears). If your symptoms are severe and persistent, you have further options. Depending on why you have dry eyes, you should do one of several things.

Your dry eyes may be treated to reverse or manage a condition or factor that is causing them. Other treatments can improve the quality of your tears or stop them from drying out too quickly. Contact us for the best eye specialist.