Why Do My Eyes Get Dry?
Among people over 40 years of age, it has been observed that up to 11% report that their eyes are dry. This alteration seems more frequent in the female population and is strongly associated with age and aging.
In turn, 30% of the consultations made in ophthalmological visits in Spain are for dry eye. This discomfort can have several causes and some of them are pathological. Let’s learn more about this topic.
What is dry eye?
The dry eye is a medical term that refers to a syndrome in reality. That is, to a set of signs and symptoms. In this case, it is caused by multiple factors and it is a loss of the hydration balance of the eye.
This lack of hydration causes inflammation or damage to the ocular surface, which results in an alteration of vision and different discomforts that decrease the quality of life of the affected person. Much of the eyeball is water, so it is logical to intuit that without sufficient fluid there is no correct functionality.
On the other hand, it may be that the eyes are dry without the occurrence of dry eye syndrome. Therefore, we must be attentive to risk factors, the degree of exposure and accompanying symptoms.
Symptoms of dry eyes
The symptoms of dry eye are varied and, many times, nonspecific. We have, as an example, the sensation of itching or grit, which cannot be associated with a single disease. This leads to eye irritation that leads to scratching.
There is also tearing that develops from eye strain. It is the feeling of not having the strength to hold your gaze in a reading or on a screen. Even the effort that must be made to focus at a distance is affected.
When the eyes are dry they tend to become red, specifically in the conjunctiva area. This inflammation due to the accumulation of blood in the tissue is not in the form of an effusion, like a hematoma, but in the appearance of red lines.
Why are my eyes dry?
The eyes can dry out for external reasons or for causes related to intrinsic alterations. We are going to divide these two groups to tell you, more in detail, what they are.
Internal disorders of the eye
One of the main causes of dry eye lies in the lack or deficit of tears. This responds to the following factors:
- Low tear production.
- Poor tear quality or rapid evaporation: due to pathologies, such as meibomian gland dysfunction. This disease causes abnormal lipids that make up the tear. This makes them evaporate more quickly, as they are less heavy.
- Eyelid opening disorder: When the eyelids close incompletely or there are anatomical deformities, the ocular surface is exposed and the tear evaporates easily. This leads to conjunctival or corneal injuries.
- Low blink frequency: prevents the normal turnover of tears and their distribution over the surface of the eye. This phenomenon has increased in recent years due to the use of computers and other screens.
External or independent alterations of the eye
Not only ocular dysfunction or abnormalities in the structure of the eye can cause it to dry out, but there are also pathologies of the organism or environmental factors that condition the appearance of this problem. Some are as follows:
- Hormonal alterations: the hormonal changes produced during adolescence and menopause cause an alteration in the composition and quantity of the tear.
- Advanced age: there is a deterioration of the meibomian glands with age, decrease in body water and automatic blinking response.
- Wearing contact lenses: Dry eye syndrome has been observed to be 12 times higher in people with contact lenses compared to the general population.
- Consumption of antidepressant and antihistamine drugs : these drugs act on neuronal receptors that, in addition to performing the desired function, have adverse effects, such as a deficit in hydration of the eye.
- Treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy: these oncological therapies cause the destruction of the glands as a secondary reaction.
- Environmental factors: an example of this can be air conditioning, dry environments, heating or pollution in cities. All the suspended particles adhere to the eyeball, making it difficult for the tear to act.
- Diet: disorders of the ocular surface may be due to a lack of vitamin A. The lack of this nutrient reduces the time of tear film breakdown.
- Allergic diseases: people who are hypersensitive to substances are more likely to suffer from allergic conjunctivitis. This disorder can damage or ulcerate the cornea.
What prevention is there so that the eyes do not dry out?
To avoid reaching the situation where the eyes are dry, it is important to take certain measures that, being simple, reduce the possibility of the syndrome appearing. It is not a minor task, since the associated visual loss can make daily life difficult.
One of the basic preventive actions is to limit environmental factors, especially when there is dust in the air. In addition, you have to protect your eyes from artificial light from computer screens, mobiles and tablets.
Foods with vitamins A, E and C can be included in the diet. On the other hand, omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory characteristics that make them ideal for reducing the signs associated with dry eye.
If you use contact lenses, their hygiene is essential. The care of these devices is imperative, not only to avoid conjunctival infections, but also to avoid irritating the eyeball.
