Don't Ignore Dry Eyes
You might feel a sand-like grittiness in your eyes that can range from mild to severe. People describe the feeling as a lack of lubrication -- and that's exactly what it is. Your body isn't making enough tears, or the chemicals in your tears are out of balance. When this happens, you have dry eye.
Dry eye is a medical diagnosis that at times is not taken seriously, says the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Optometric Association (AOA).
According to the AAO and the AOA, over 3 million women and over 1 million men suffer from dry eye syndrome, and this generally increases with age. Dry eye is not just an annoyance. It has the potential of causing inflammation, blurred vision, and even blindness in extreme cases.
Risk rises with age
Changes in your immune response and falling hormone production as you age can lead to dry eye.
Some medications can cause or worsen dry eye. Key culprits:
If you have dry eye symptoms and are on medications, talk to your doctor to see if changes can be made.
Other causes
Some autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), can cause dry eye.
The first line of defense against dry eye is to limit or avoid things that cause symptoms. That includes dry climates. Humidity levels of about 45 percent or more are best for your eyes. Other factors include forced air (such as from a car vent), dusty settings, smoke and computer screens set so high that they force your eyes to open wider.
Artificial tears you can buy over the counter can help. Look for products that are just like your own tears, not eye drops sold for allergies or redness. There are also prescription eye drops, punctal plugs, hot compresses, and other medications that could help. Talk to your eye doctor about these options.