Dry eye can affect anyone at any age, but common among the elderly. The tears are responsible for lubricating the eyes and prevents them from drying out. When the eye is blinked, a thin film of tear is swept across the eye surface.
An individual with dry eye does not have enough tears to keep the eye comfortable. This can occur if not enough tears are produced to keep it moist. Over time, the resulting dryness can impair the surface of the eyeball.
Those who have dry eyes have difficulty wearing contact lenses. Additionally, they also have issues in air-conditioned environments. Remember that there is no cure but the symptoms can be relieved.
Indications of dry eye
- Burning or stinging sensation
Encourage the individual to blink more often if an individual has dry eye syndrome. - Eye redness
- Occasional blurred vision
- Itchiness
- Tired eyes
- Formation of mucus around the eyelids upon waking up
- Sensation of grittiness or a foreign object in the eye
What are the causes?
Some of the factors that triggers or contributes to dry eye include the following:
- Medical conditions such as arthritis
- Menopause
- Eye trauma
- Medications including antidepressants, oral contraceptives, diuretics, antihistamines and beta-blockers
- Exposure to irritants such as dust, cigarette smoke or chemicals
- Laser surgery
- Infrequent or incomplete blinking of the eyes
- Extended periods of staying in front of the TV or computer
Management
There is no proven cure for dry eye, but can be managed successfully. The treatment is aimed on increasing the production of tears, maintaining the tear film volume or prevent extensive loss of tears.
A variety of options might include the following:
- Encourage the individual to blink more often
- Apply eye drops, ointments or gels to lubricate the eye surface.
- Increase the humidity of the air at home by placing water bowls around the room to evaporate.
- Specialized plugs can be inserted into the tear ducts to prevent excess tear loss
- Certain medications can be prescribed by the doctor.
- Surgery might be required in severe cases.