Dry eye is caused by the lack of tears or an imbalance in natural oil production. This can happen for several reasons, including genetics, age, weather conditions, and lifestyle choices. There are many different ways to treat dry eye, but it’s essential to find what works best for you. If left untreated, dry eye can lead to more severe problems like corneal ulcers and other damage that could result in blindness.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a condition that can cause your eyes to feel gritty, itchy, and inflamed. Dry eye occurs when the eyes don’t have enough tears or when the quality of your tears changes. This creates a dry, red, and inflamed eye.

How Do Tears Work?

When you blink, tears from your tear glands coat the surface of your eyes to keep them moist and comfortable. The fluid contains nutrients, salts, antibodies, and other substances that protect the eye from infection and damage. Tears help keep the eye clean and clear, and they also help protect the eye from light.

Layers

A tear film is made from three types of layers: the oily, watery, and mucus layer.

Each of these layers provides a specific benefit.

Oily- The oily layer of the tear film prevents tears from evaporating too quickly by slowing down evaporation and making it harder for water molecules to escape into the air. This keeps your eyes from drying out.

Watery: The liquid layer is derived from the lacrimal glands, which produce the majority of tears. The watery layer helps to wash away dirt, dust, and other particles from the surface of your eye.

Mucus: This layer is made up of mucous cells, which secrete a sticky substance that helps to keep the tear film in place.

If any one of these layers is not functioning correctly, it can lead to dry eye syndrome.

The Hidden Dangers

There are many hidden dangers to neglecting dry eye symptom. If left untreated, severe dry eye can cause the following:

• eye inflammation
• abrasion of the corneal surface
• corneal ulcers
• vision loss

It is essential to seek treatment right away if you think you have a dry eye.

Symptoms

When it comes to dry eye symptoms, there are a variety such as the following:

• stinging and burning
• redness
• grittiness
• blurry vision
• strings of mucus around your eyes
• excess tears produced
• your eyes feel too painful to wear contact lenses

It’s important to seek medical attention right away if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

Causes of Dry Eye

There are a variety of issues that may cause dry eye such as the following:

• environmental conditions such as allergy medications, air conditioning, and heating units
• being surrounded by smoke or a windy climate
• looking at a computer screen for too long
• using contact lenses
• impaired sleep

For some people, the root cause of their dry eyes is unknown.

Preventative Treatment

There are a variety of ways to prevent dry eye, many of which are often overlooked.

• using artificial tears to rehydrate your eyes throughout the day if you experience dryness frequently
• taking breaks throughout the day if you stare at a computer screen for long periods
• keeping contact lenses clean,
• wearing sunglasses outdoors, especially during windy or sunny days

and more

Contact Dr. Mayli Davis

To learn more about how computer use can affect your eyes, please call the Advanced Eyelid Surgery Center at (817) 778-4444. For those who need surgery on their eyelids or the surrounding areas, please use the contact page to get in touch with Dr. Mayli Davis. Our team looks forward to working with you to achieve your desired results.