Managing and Preventing Dry Eyes

Symptoms of Dry Eyes

Dry eye is a common condition that happens when your eyes do not produce sufficient tears or when the tears evaporate too swiftly.

Symptoms that may indicate you are experiencing dry eyes include a scratchy feeling, as if there is something in your eye, stinging or burning feelings in your eye, red eyes, sensitivity to light, and your vision is blurry.

Causes

Glands above your eyes usually produce tears that keep your eyes moisturised. If you are experiencing dry eyes, it may mean that your glands are not producing enough tears to maintain your eyes’ moisture, or your tears evaporate too quickly.

Several factors can cause dry eyes, such as:

Causes	Explanation
Screen usage	Staring at the screens of electronic devices for long hours decreases blinking, which can cause your tears to evaporate quickly and lead to dry eyes.
Wearing contact lenses	Wearing contact lenses improperly or for prolonged periods can result in dry eyes.
Age	As we grow older, tear production often decreases, which can cause dry eyes.
Environment	Dry or windy climates, high altitudes, and indoor heating or air conditioning can contribute to you having dry eyes.
Medical conditions	Tear production can be affected by conditions such as blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), autoimmune diseases (like Sjögren's syndrome), diabetes, and thyroid disorders.
Medications	Medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, and treatments for high blood pressure can all have dry eyes as a side effect.
Eye surgery	Certain procedures, such as LASIK, can lead to temporary dry eyes as a side effect.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis

Evaluation for dry eye is done during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Your doctor will give you eye drops to dilate your pupils and check for dry eye and other potential eye issues. This examination is simple and painless.

You should remember to inform your doctor if you think you have dry eyes. Your doctor may look for these signs to determine if you have dry eye, such as the amount of tears your eyes produce, the time it takes for your tears to evaporate, and your eyelids’ structure.

Treatment Options

Dry eye treatment is often dependent on what exactly causes your symptoms to occur.

Type of treatment	What it does
Over-the-counter eye drops	The most common treatment for mild dry eyes is non-prescription artificial tears. Moisturising gels and ointments can be obtained over the counter to soothe your eyes’ condition as well.
Prescription medicines	If your dry eyes seem serious, your eye doctor may prescribe medicated eye drops to help your eyes produce more tears.
Tear duct plugs	If your tears are draining too quickly from your eyes, your doctor may recommend putting a pair of special plugs, called punctal plugs, in your tear ducts. These plugs can help prevent the tears in your eyes from being drained quickly.
Surgery	In some cases, dry eyes can happen because your lower eyelids are loose, which leads to a rapid drainage of tears from your eyes. If this causes dry eyes, your doctor may recommend surgery to fix your eyelids and maintain the tears within your eyes. However, this is an uncommon treatment.

It is best to seek professional advice from a healthcare professional, usually an eye doctor or ophthalmologist, to identify what causes dry eyes and help you develop a tailored treatment plan.

Complications of Untreated Dry Eyes

In serious cases, if your dry eye is left untreated, complications can include constant eye infections, eye inflammation, corneal abrasions or ulcers (sores), visual challenges, quality of life is reduced, and having problems reading, driving, or doing other activities that need good vision.

Prevention Tips

Dry eye prevention includes making good habits and changes to your environment or lifestyle that can help decrease the risk or seriousness of dry eye symptoms.

Your eyes may feel better by trying out any of the methods below:

Cut down your screen time and rest your eyes periodically.
Use a humidifier to help maintain moisture levels in your environment.
Keep yourself hydrated by drinking 8 to 10 glasses every day.
Get enough sleep, around 7 to 8 hours a night.
If you wake up with dry and scratchy eyes, try using artificial tear eye drops before going to bed.
Wear a pair of sunglasses when you are outside.
Talk to your ophthalmologist about adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet to help relieve dry eye symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally found in oily fish, like salmon, sardines, tuna, trout, and anchovies, as well as in flaxseeds. They can also be taken as dietary supplements in the form of pills or tablets.

Book an appointment at Gleneagles Hospitals

Consult our doctors if you have any symptoms related to dry eyes. A dedicated and expert team of ophthalmologists at Gleneagles Hospitals is available for consultation to provide the best care and assistance.

Get in touch with us to book an appointment today if you have concerns or questions regarding dry eyes. We assure you the best possible care tailored to your specific needs.

Find A Doctor

Enquiry