What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome occurs when there are not enough tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears help to maintain the health of the eye and provide clear vision. The most common symptoms of dry eye are watering, burning and grittiness.

Causes of Dry Eye?

There are many causes to this eye disease including:

• Age – drying of the eyes and poor tear lubrication is part of the aging process
• Gender – hormonal changes such as those that come with pregnancy, make women more susceptible to the eye disease
• Environmental Conditions – exposure to dust, smoke, dry climates and wind can cause the eyes to dry out
• Contact Lenses Wearers – long time wears of contact lenses typically experience symptoms of dry eye
• Medical Conditions – individuals with diabetes, inflammation of the eye, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid complications are more likely to show symptoms of dry eyes
• Medications – blood pressure medications, antihistamines, decongestants, and antidepressants among other medicines can lead to dry eyes

Detection and Treatment of Dry Eyes

If you are experiencing burning or itching sensations in your eye, request an eye exam appointment with one of our knowledgeable optometrists. There are many tear solutions available to provide additional lubrication to the eyes. Often a warm compress on the eyes my help relieve symptoms. There are other options as well for conserving tears such as blocking the tear ducts if necessary.

Dry eye syndrome is becoming increasingly more prevalent and our eye care specialists have many tools to diagnose and treat this frustrating chronic eye condition.