What are the Causes of Dry Eyes

By Julian Berson

Dry eye, as the name implies, is a discomforting state of eyes, in which the eyes are limited to dump tears. There is a special layer possessed by human eyes, known as tear film, which is responsible for creating tears. In the dry eye syndrome, this film is disabled to work appropriately to secrete the specified amount of tears. The indicators of dry eye include burning and itching sensation, discomfort in eyes, wrong vision, tear secretion while watching Television, stringing eye muscles and pain with contact lenses.

What Leads To Dry Eye

Dry eye is caused due to lots of elements related to age, place of living, job and activities carried out by the patient and many more. Some of the most significant reasons behind dry eye include:

- Old age, in which less oil is produced by body
- Polluted environment having excess of smoke particles
- Use of contact lenses
- A considerable number of sicknesses like Sjogren's Syndrome and arthritis
- Nerve wracking working, especially on computer
- Dry heat and air conditioners that soak away the tears from eye surface

Dry Eye Treatment - The Options Available

In case, you experience dry eye syndrome, you should consult an optometrist to know about various dry eye treatment possibilities available. First off, it is imperative to diagnose the level of dry eye syndrome before starting the dry eye treatment. For this reason, you may follow any one of the following tests:

1. Glisten Test - In this test, bits of paper are put on the lower eyelid to examine the quantity of tears available in your eyes.

2. Tear Break Up Test - In this test, a solution is pored in the eye to grasp the process of tear discharge.

The commonest dry eye treatment choices include:

- Drinking a large amount of water
- Avoid sitting straight in front of fan and air conditioner
- Avoid places having extraordinary climatic conditions
- Blinking the eyes more often
- Wear wrap-around glasses to avoid heat and air
- Avoid smoking
- Scrub the eyelids with hot water and mild shampoo

The products that might provide help in dry eye treatment include:

- Punctal Plugs - These are made up of collagen or silicon and block the drainage system of eyes to conserve tears in the eyes.
- Vitamin A medications - As we all know, Vitamin An is required for eyes, therefore most optometrists recommend Vitamin A medications like BioTears for dry eye treatment.
- Artificial Tears Generators - There are several products for sale in market that can help the eyes to provide synthesised drops. For instance, Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma eye drops are found to highly effective in this direction.
- Restasis - This is the ophthalmic eye drop that helps to reduce the inflammation around the eye channels carrying mucin and lipids.
- Other products include flax seed oil, lubricating gels and antibiotics that are advised by the optometrist.

Along with these prescribed medicines, one must focus upon healthy eating by consuming foods loaded in Vitamins and Minerals. You can ask your local optometrist to get advised on the food items to be consumed as a part of dry eye treatment.

About the Author:

Julian Berson is a prize-winning optician based in Leeds, offering the highest in private service, eye care, designer glasses at cheap costs, as well as providing a mobile optician visiting service for the elderly and those that cannot easily get out of the house.For more information, come to our blog at www.eyevisionproblems.blogspot.com