LIFESTYLE NEWS - If you have dry eye syndrome, your eyes do not produce enough tears or you aren't able to maintain a normal layer of tears to coat your eyes.
As a result, your eyes cannot eliminate dust and other irritants.
Reading extensively, working on the computer, or spending long hours in a dry environment may further aggravate your eyes if you have this condition.
If you have dry eye syndrome, your eyes may also be prone to bacterial infections or the surface of your eyes may become inflamed, causing scarring on your cornea. Although it's uncomfortable, dry eye syndrome almost never causes permanent vision loss.
The most common symptoms of dry eye syndrome are burning, pain, and redness in the eyes. Other common symptoms include watery tearing or stringy mucus in the eyes.
You may find that your eyes get tired faster than they used to or that you have difficulty reading or sitting at the computer for long periods. The feeling of having sand in your eyes and blurry vision are common.
The causes of dry eye syndrome include:
- hormone replacement therapy
- exposure to the wind or dry air, such as constant exposure to a heater during the winter
- allergies
- LASIK eye surgery
- some medications, including antihistamines, nasal decongestants, birth control pills, and antidepressants
- aging
- long-term contact lens wear
- staring at a computer for long hours
- not blinking enough
- chronic allergies
- thyroid disease or other conditions that push the eyes forward
- lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune system disorders
- exposure keratitis, which occurs from sleeping with your eyes partially open
- vitamin A deficiency, which is unlikely if you get sufficient nutrition
If your eyes feel dry and you suddenly find yourself unable to see as well as you used to, visit an ophthalmologist right away.
Source: Healthline
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