Dry Eye Clinic
About 4.88 million Americans 50 years or older experience dry eyes. Dry eyes disproportionately affects older individuals, but it can impact those under 50 as well. Dry eyes may seem like just a nuisance, but when persistent, they can merit medical intervention.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
When your eyes are dry, it means that your eyes aren’t tearing up the way they should be—or your eyes are drying out too fast to compensate. Throughout the day, we produce tears to moisten our eyes. During winter, low humidity can cause drier eyes. During summer, air conditioning can cause drier eyes. But there are other causes, too, such as: allergies, medications, and medical conditions like diabetes.
Though dry eyes may seem trivial, they can lead to some complications. Apart from being painful, they can lead to eye infections, surface damage, and difficulty seeing. When dry eyes become persistent—not just something that happens “once in a while”—it becomes time to see a doctor for treatment.
What Are the Common Treatments for Dry Eyes?
Artificial tears can reduce the pain associated with dry eyes, though it doesn’t address the cause of the dry eyes. If dry eyes are caused as a medical side effect, other medications may be explored. If dry eyes are caused by allergies and inflammation, medications may be tried. Dry eyes that are caused by environmental conditions can be treated by humidifiers and changes to habits.
Dry eyes can be a consequence of surgeries, such as laser eye surgeries, as well as co-occurring with other medical issues. A doctor can help you assess whether your dry eyes are being caused by another ailment, and what the best course of action is.
