Dry Eyes

The symptoms of dry eye can be mild or severe. They include:

• dry or sore eyes;
• Intermittent blurring of vision that usually improves with each blink;
• Stinging or burning eyes;
• Excessive tearing
• Scratchiness, sandy, gritty or ‘foreign body’ sensation in the eye
• Stringy mucus in or around the eyes;
• Excessive eye irritation from smoke or wind;
• Discomfort when wearing contact lenses.

• Age
  • Tear production normally decreases as we age and women are most often affected, especially after menopause.
• Environment
  • Low humidity (air-conditioned rooms), haze, smoke and other air pollutants.
• Visual tasks
  • Prolonged reading, computer usage, driving and watching TV can lead to reduce blinking frequency and this will worsen dry eyes symptoms.
• Contact lens wear
  • Some contact lens material absorbs more moisture from the eye and can disrupt the balance of tear film production causing dry eyes.
• Medications
  • Certain prescription and over the counter medications e.g. diuretics, beta-blockers, antihistamines, sleeping pills and those for relieving cough and cold can reduce tears secretion and cause dry eyes.
• Eyelid and other related conditions
  • Blepharitis, meibomitis, rosacea, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjrogen’s Syndrome are common conditions associated with dry eyes.
• Dry eyes can also occur after an eye surgery e.g. cataract and Lasik surgery.

• Avoid air blowing in your eyes. Don't direct hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioners or fans toward your eyes.
• Consider wearing wraparound sunglasses or other protective eyewear. Safety shields can be added to the tops and sides of eyeglasses to block wind and dry air. You can wear eye pads when you sleep at night.
• Add moisture to the air by putting a humidifier in the bedroom or office.
• Take eye breaks during extended tasks such as computer work. If you're reading or doing another task that requires visual concentration, take periodic eye breaks. Close your eyes for a few minutes or blink repeatedly for a few seconds to help spread your tears evenly over your eyes.
• Stop smoking and avoid smoke. If you smoke, ask your health care provider for help devising a quit-smoking strategy that's most likely to work for you. If you don't smoke, stay away from people who do. Smoke can worsen dry eyes symptoms.
• Use artificial tears regularly. If you have chronic dry eyes, use artificial tears, similar to your own tears, lubricate the eyes and help replace the natural moisture layer of the tear film. Some are available without a prescription at the pharmacy and it can be used as often as necessary. If you are sensitive to the preservatives in artificial tears, preservative-free eye drops are available.
• Avoid contact lenses that will worsen your dry eyes. If you wear them, use preservative- free lubricants regularly. Also wear the contact lenses for shorter hours a day.
• Punctal occlusion Special plugs applied to the punctum (where the tears drain away from the eye to the nose) to conserve tears in the eye is another option for severe cases.