Why Do My Eyes Always Feel Dry?

Introduction:

Is it difficult for one to tear up? Need to know why? The eyes are customized to make tears on their own to keep themselves moist. But sometimes, this process gets disrupted by itself or due to external factors or underlying medical conditions that make tear production scarce and compromise the tear quality, leading to dryness in the eyes.

What Does a Tear Contain?

A tear film is made up of three main layers such as;

• The oily layer is the outermost layer of the tear film produced by the oil glands, called the meibomian gland. These glands are present along the edges of the eyelids, where the eyelashes are placed, and produce oil that prevents the eyes from drying out. Any defect in this can easily evaporate the tear.

• The watery layer is the middle layer that contributes most to tear production and is a by-product of the lacrimal glands. They protect the eye by washing the debris caught in the eye and keeping the eyes clean. Problems with this layer's consistency can result in the formation of a ropey layer in the eyes.

• The mucus layer is deep inside and helps spread the watery layer, keeping the eyes moist. The conjunctiva makes it a transparent layer covering the white part of the eyes. If this layer gets faulty, dry patches can appear on the eye's surface.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes occur when the tear production is inadequate or when the quality of the tears is poor, which can be due to more than one reason, such as:

• Prolonged screen time, continuous reading, or other activities that involve less blinking will result in dry eyes.

• Wearing contact lenses without proper hydration for an extended period and certain eye surgeries to correct the vision can cause dry eyes.

• Cold climates, winds, or exposure to smoke can cause the moisture in the eyes to evaporate, drying them out.

• There is significantly little tear and saliva production in autoimmune diseases like Sjogren's syndrome (an immune disorder that causes dry mouth and dry eyes), and rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic inflammatory disorder of the joints), due to the abnormal destruction of healthy cells responsible for tear and saliva production by the body's immune system. Conditions like thyroid disease can also cause dry eyes.

• Eye health is heavily influenced by vitamin A. In the long term, its deficiency develops dry eyes as a symptom.

• Eyelid inflammation can lead to dry eyes as well.

• Nerves are responsible for sending signals when tear production is indicated, which is poor in a diabetic patient due to the high blood sugar levels, leading to dry eyes.

• Tear production deteriorates as a result of aging.

• Dry eyes can appear as a postmenopausal symptom in women.

• Dryness can occur when the tear film is improperly made due to gland dysfunction.

• Certain medications, such as beta-blockers and diuretics taken for high blood pressure, antihistamines for allergic reactions, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medicines, can cause dry eyes as a side effect.

• Specific conditions with limited eye closure or difficulty closing the eye can lead to dry eyes.

What Are the Risk Factors for Dry Eyes?

• Dry eyes most occur in people above 50 because aging diminishes tear production.

• Lack of enough vitamin A in the diet is found in carrots, liver, broccoli, and omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts and fish.

• Women are more likely to have dry eyes due to hormonal imbalances due to pregnancy, menopause, and birth-control pills.

• Dry eyes also occur in people with refractive surgery or contact lenses.

What Are the Various Types of Dry Eye Disease?

• Evaporative Dry Eyes: This occurs when tears evaporate rapidly. This condition is mainly caused when the gland of the eyes producing an outer, oily film of the tear stops functioning properly. The oily layer can no longer protect the watery layer of the tears, and thus, it evaporates and dries up.

• Aqueous Deficient Dry Eyes: This occurs when the lacrimal gland (that produces tears) does not produce enough tears. This condition is caused by an autoimmune disease that prevents the lacrimal gland from secreting aqueous tears.

• Mixed Dry Eyes: This condition mainly arises due to tear instability and aqueous tear deficiency caused by a lack of enough tear production and tear film instability, thus leading to dryness in the eyes.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eyes?

The below symptoms indicate that eyes might be drier than usual;

• The eyes keep burning throughout the day.

• Constantly experiencing a scratchy feeling as if something is in the eyes.

• Feeling itchiness and dryness in the eye.

• Blurred vision.

• Eyes becoming sensitive to light.

• The eyelids get stuck to each other when one wakes up from a nap.

• The mucus, which appears stringy, gets deposited in the eyelids.

• Tired look in the eyes.

• Watery eyes might sound odd as a symptom of dry eyes, but when the eyes get highly irritated by dryness, the nerves send signals to the brain demanding lubrication, which leads to profuse watering from the eyes, which usually is not real tears but water.

How to Prevent Dry Eyes?

Home care for dry eye includes;

• Wear protective glasses to prevent strain while having screen time or reading a book, and wear sunglasses outdoors to avoid exposure to wind and sunlight.

• Trying to blink frequently when on the phone or computer, or watching television.

• Massaging the eyelids at least twice a day and using warm compression.

• Keep the eyes clean by removing the mucus deposits every morning.

• In the case of vitamin deficiencies, vitamin supplements can be started by modifying the regular diet to favor the required vitamin.

• Drinking water in moderation throughout the day without gulping at a time will promote proper hydration.

• Avoid using blow dryers that face the eye.

How Is a Dry Eye Diagnosed?

• It is easy to rule out dry eyes by regularly keeping track of the symptoms.

• When consulting an ophthalmologist, giving a detailed history of the condition, diseases one has been diagnosed with, and medication one takes is needed for a correct diagnosis.

• An ophthalmologist can diagnose it by performing an eye examination and performing a few tests to rule out how fast your tear secretion is, the quality of the tear, how frequently you blink, and other factors.

How Is Dry Eye Treated?

When there is severe irritation, it is best always to consult an ophthalmologist, and they might suggest treatments like;

• Artificial tears are used for mild irritations, and eye drops or ointments are advised to be used at night, depending on the cause.

• Supplements like omega-3 fatty acids are advised to correct deficiencies.

• In case of watery eyes, the eye specialist will suggest blocking the tear ducts (small openings in both eyelids) by placing a temporary punctal plug that dissolves by itself (a silicon plug) and watching for any improvement. If not, the opening will be closed with a permanent plug, and surgery is advised in severe cases.

• The doctor might advise other treatment options based on the history and the in-person evaluation of the eyes.

Home Remedies:

• Placing a warm compress over the eyes.

• Using humidifiers in winter is important, as low humidity during this season can cause eye dryness.

• Eyes should be rested by taking breaks while working on laptops or computers or while using mobile phones. One must follow the 20-20-20 rule, which states that one must take a break for 20 minutes and focus on something 20 meters away for at least 20 seconds.

What Are the Complications Associated With Dry Eyes?

• Untreated dry eye conditions can cause eye abrasion, inflammation, corneal ulcers, and vision loss.

• Eye infections.

• Affects quality of life by hampering daily life activities, such as reading.

• Avoid triggers present in the environment that cause dry eyes, such as allergens, cigarette smoke, and wind.

• One can also take omega-3 fatty acid supplements to help produce tears.

Conclusion:

Dry eyes are mostly the symptoms of any underlying cause, not a disease itself. Although dry eyes lack a permanent cure in most cases, they can be managed efficiently using proper eye care and treatment. Therefore, one must consult the ophthalmologist as soon as they experience any symptoms of dry eyes to avoid further complications.