Top 5 Causes of Dry Eye

Dry eye is a condition in which your tears are not abundant enough, or they have the wrong composition, to protect and lubricate your eyes. It is an annoying condition that can make it irritating to open your eyes, and it can even affect your sight in certain cases. If you know what caused your dry eye, you can treat the condition rather successfully. A number of causes are very common, and you have probably had dry eye at one point or another in your life. Eye Wellness Center in Bellaire, TX, offers dry eye treatment and other optometry services.

Tear Evaporation

If your tears evaporate too quickly, and you can't replenish them easily, you can end up with dry eye. People who live in very hard regions, like deserts that do not have monsoon seasons, often have to use artificial tears to bump up their eyes' tear supply.

Allergens and Pollutants

Irritation can lead to dry eye as tissues become inflamed and as your tears dry up quickly. You may have to use artificial tears and allergy medication to help keep your eyes feeling relatively normal.

Poor Tear Composition

Your tears aren't just water, they're a mix of water, oils, and mucus. If the balance between these three is upset, such as when your tear glands malfunction, then the tears you produce might not provide the type of lubrication you need for your eyes.

Excessive Computer/Screen Use

If you use your computer or phone a lot and tend to stare at the screen, you're likely staring without blinking a whole lot. This leads to tear evaporation and eye irritation. Learning to look away and blink at regular intervals can help.

Excessive Tear Drainage

Sometimes the tears you produce are just fine, but they drain away too quickly. In this case, your optometrist can insert tiny plugs into the offending drainage ducts to help slow down the draining process.

Other Contributing Causes

Other contributing causes include auto immune diseases, glaucoma medications, and being over age 40.

Schedule an Appointment with Our Eye Doctor for Eye Disease Screening in Bellaire, TX

Call Eye Wellness Center today at (832) 955-8162 for more information on dry eye treatment or to schedule an eye exam.