Dry eye is a common condition of the eye that can cause severe discomfort, irritability and infection. Dry eye symptoms are seen when your tear glands do not produce enough tears or when the moisture in your eyes evaporates too quickly.
Tears are essential to the eyes as they provide the required lubrication to help see clearly without any discomfort. Both medical and environmental factors can contribute to dry eye symptoms. Although dry eye condition can occur at any age, given the excessive exposure to screen nowadays, it is still more common in older age as that is when an individual produces fewer tears.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Dry eye disease is a common and typically progressive chronic condition. In most cases, however, dry eye symptoms can be minimized. Here are some of the common causes of dry eyes:
Ageing
Even though anyone can have dry eye symptoms, it is usually more common in older people. The dry eye symptoms tend to be more pronounced in individuals above the age of 50, as their eyes produce less tears.
Screen Usage
People who work excessively on computers can experience dry eye symptoms, along with other issues such as headaches and eyestrain. Staring at screens for long hours, without much blinking can affect the tear production in your eyes and lead to dryness.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A is known to promote healthy eyes. diet deficient in Vitamin A can lead to dry eye symptoms and other vision problems such as night blindness.
Menopause
Hormones also play a significant role in eye health and condition. Some women may experience dry eye symptoms during pregnancy, menopause or when using birth control pills. Hormones stimulate the production of tears, and so the imbalance may reduce tear production.
Low Humidity
Dryness in the air also contributes to dry eye symptoms and can happen if there is low humidity. Smoke or exposure to passive smoking can also cause dry eye.
How to Deal with Dry Eye Symptoms?
It is crucial to pay attention to the dry eye symptoms and take prompt steps to minimize them. Dry eye symptoms can be reduced significantly by considering the following points:
Change your Environment
Environmental factors can initiate dry eye symptoms and cause redness in your eyes and blurry vision. Avoid smoking cigarettes and stay indoors if its windy outside. Use the right eyewear to protect your eyes from wind gusts during activities such as skiing or riding a two-wheeler. You can also use a humidifier to facilitate moisture in the air inside your home.
Add Fatty Acids to your Diet
consuming foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can help alleviate dry eye symptoms and reduce inflammation in the body. Moreover, incorporating fatty acids in your diet promotes higher tear production of tears. Foods rich in Omega-3 are soybean oil, chia seeds, walnuts, eggs and fatty fish such as salmon and tuna. You can also try simple home remedies for dry eyes if condition is still not too bad.
Eyedrops and Ointments
In case you begin to notice dry eye symptoms, it is advisable to consult an eye specialist. Your eye care specialist can prescribe eye drops to reduce the dry eye symptoms. You can also use ointments after consulting your eye doctor.
Rest your Eyes
Avoid extended usage of computers and television. Take a break regularly to help your eyes regain their moisture and minimize dryness due to the excess screen time.
Prevention is Better than Cure
Eyes are the most sensitive part of our body, and can easily experience discomfort, irritation and dry eye symptoms due to a variety of reasons. You may initially try simple home remedies for dry eyes, but if the condition prevails, then you must get your eyes examined by an eye specialist.
Moreover, you can prevent and minimize the effects of dry eye symptoms by using the right vision protection aid. At Titan Eye Plus, we provide quality sunglasses and eyewear to ensure 100% protection of your eyes from dust, wind, harmful UV rays and other irritants. Choosing the right eyewear allows your eyes to breathe, retain moisture and stay protected under various environmental conditions.
We have a range of eyewear from reputable brands such as Oakley, Vogue, and Ray-Ban that provide 100% UV protected and polarized lenses for optimal eye protection. Moreover, we promise a hassle-free and cost-effective delivery of your eyewear.