Ophthalmology

Dry Eye Disease

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Dry eye disease, also called dry eye syndrome, is a chronic condition that occurs if you don’t produce enough tears or your tears are of poor quality. It’s a common condition, particularly in older adults.

Overview

Tears keep the eye moist, help wounds heal, and protect against eye infection. If you have dry eye disease, your eye is unable to keep its surface lubricated and comfortable.

Most people have experienced occasional symptoms of dry eyes in certain circumstances, such as on a dry, windy day, or after staring at a computer screen for too long. But dry eye disease is different. It’s a chronic condition with an underlying biological cause.

Dry eye can be painful and irritating, resulting in a stinging or burning sensation. If left untreated, it can lead to an increased risk of infection and, in severe cases, damage to the surface of the eye.

10Common Symptoms

Scratchy or sandy feeling, as if something is in your eye
Stinging or burning feeling in the eye
Eye irritation or itchiness
Pain or redness in or around the eye
Stringy mucus in or around the eye
Sensitivity to light
Episodes of watery eyes that follow periods of very dry sensation
Foreign body sensation (the feeling that something is in your eye)
Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Blurred vision

Causes

Not enough tears produced: Certain medical conditions (such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis) and some medications (such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and hormone replacement therapy), can lead to decreased tear production. The tear glands can also be damaged by radiation or inflammation, resulting in reduced tears. As we age, the eyes usually produce fewer tears.

Tears are low-quality:Tears are made up of three layers—a mucus layer that helps spread tears across the eye to ensure that the eye remains wet, a liquid layer that nourishes the cornea and conjunctiva, and an oil layer that prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. Dry eyes can result from problems with any of these three layers.

Tears evaporate too quickly: Rapid evaporation in dry eye disease can be caused by issues with the tears themselves, or from an eyelid malformation.

Potential Risk Factors

Age–dry eye is more prevalent in people over 50
Sex – women are more prone to dry eye, especially if they’re experiencing hormone changes due to pregnancy, birth control, or menopause
A diet that is low in vitamin A
Wearing contact lenses
Smoking
Certain systemic diseases, such as diabetes, thyroid-associated diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome Foundation, can contribute to dry eye problems
Medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, some blood pressure medications, hormone replacement therapy, and birth control can also contribute to dry eye problems.
Living environment–living in a dry climate or having air conditioning or heat on in your home can dry out your eyes
Eyelid problems, such as not being able to completely close your eyes when sleeping or blinking, can lead to serious dry eye problems over time

Diagnosis

Dry eye disease is diagnosed after a comprehensive eye exam. Your eye doctor may also perform one of several tests, including measuring your rate of tear production, taking a sample of your tears to analyze, or staining your eye with a temporary dye to examine stain patterning.