Symptoms of dry eyes
Dry eyes occur when the eye does not produce tears properly, or when the supporting composition of tears is not at the right size and evaporates too quickly. When tears cannot lubricate the eyes properly, you can experience:
- sore eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- A sensation of tightness or sand in the eyes
- Heat, sting, or an itchy sensation in the eye
- Like there is an object in the eye
- Redness
- Blurred vision
- Eyes tired and runny.
- Mucus in or around the eyes
If not treated, this condition will cause inflammation, pain, ulcers, or a scar on the cornea. In certain cases, dry eyes cause partial vision loss. However, total vision loss due to dry eyes is very rare.
Dry eyes can trigger "fake" tears.
Dry eye sufferers will experience excessive tear production falling on the cheeks. This happens when the eye does not get enough lubricant, so the eye sends an emergency signal through the nervous system to ask for more lubricant. The eye's nervous system then responds to this emergency request by flooding the eyes with tears to try to compensate for the dryness suffered. However, these emergency tears are only made from water and do not have the quality of a lubricant or a normal tear composition. These fake tears can rinse away dirt, but will not coat the eyes properly.
Dry eyes can make it difficult for you to do some activities, such as using a computer or reading for a certain period of time and can reduce eye tolerance for dry environments, such as air on an airplane.
What causes dry eyes?
There are various reasons why you can experience dry eyes, even though one sure cause may not be found. Some possible causes, including:
1. Hormonal changes
Hormones stimulate tear production. Hormonal changes commonly experienced by women can increase the risk of dry eyes. For example: during pregnancy, menopause, or using birth control pills.
2. The aging process
Dry eyes are more often experienced by parents. This may be because tear production decreases with age, and the eyelids become less sensitive to flatten tears throughout the eye surface.
3. Medical conditions
Some diseases can affect the ability of the eye glands to produce tears, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, thyroid disorders, vitamin A deficiency, Bell's palsy, allergies, contact dermatitis, HIV.
Many people who experience dry eyes also experience blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD is an eyelid boundary inflammation that can block the tear glands from producing oil for the tear layer. Blepharitis can be experienced by anyone and is caused by a bacterial infection or other conditions, such as rosacea
4. Medications
Dry eyes can be a side effect of taking certain drugs, such as antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, hypertension medications, taking acne medications, oral contraceptives, Parkinson's drugs, beta blockers, and diuretics.
5. Environment and activities
Environmental factors are not the main cause, but factors that can worsen dry eye conditions. For example dust, smoke, wind, the sun, dry weather, hot winds, are in high places.
In addition, when you read, work in front of a computer screen, write, or activities that require other visual concentrations, the eyes tend to blink less frequently. That is, the tear layer will evaporate faster than the refill process.
6. Cosmetics
Some people who have had LASIK eye surgery experience dry eyes a few weeks after surgery. Symptoms usually go away after a few months, but in some cases, they can continue.
Contact lenses can also irritate the eyes and cause dry eyes.
7. Problems with eyelid structure
Ectropy (reversal of the inner to outer petals) and entropy (the outer eyelids that enter inside) can cause meta to become dry and irritated due to the tears that evaporate quickly after continuous contact with outside air.
Dry eyes can also occur due to keratitis, a condition in which the eyelids do not completely close during sleep.