Dry eyes

Dry Eyes

Dry eyes (pronunciation: /draɪ aɪz/) is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren't able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. It can happen if you don't produce enough tears or if you produce poor-quality tears.

Etymology

The term "dry eyes" is derived from the English words "dry", meaning free from moisture or liquid, and "eyes", the organ of sight in humans and animals.

Symptoms

Dry eyes can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Red eyes
• A sensation of having something in your eyes
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Difficulty with nighttime driving
• Watery eyes, which is the body's response to the irritation of dry eyes
• Blurred vision or eye fatigue

Causes

Dry eyes can occur when tear production and drainage is not in balance. Factors that can cause dry eyes include:

• Age: Dry eyes are a part of the natural aging process. The majority of people over age 65 experience some symptoms of dry eyes.
• Gender: Women are more likely to develop dry eyes due to hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives, and menopause.
• Medications: Certain medicines, including antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications and antidepressants, can reduce tear production.
• Medical conditions: People with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems are more likely to have symptoms of dry eyes. Also, problems with inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis), inflammation of the surfaces of the eye, or the inward or outward turning of eyelids can cause dry eyes to develop.

Treatment

Treatment for dry eyes can include:

• Artificial tears: These are lubricating eye drops that may alleviate the dry, scratching feeling and foreign body sensation of dry eyes.
• Medications: Prescription eye drops or ointments, tear-stimulating drugs, or eyelid cleaners may be recommended by your doctor.
• Surgery: In some cases, a procedure may be performed to close the ducts that drain tears out of the eyes.

Related Terms

• Blepharitis
• Sjogren's Syndrome
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Dry eyes
• Wikipedia's article - Dry eyes

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