subject: Common Causes Of Dry Eyes [print this page] Dry eyes are something that most people will have at some point in their life. The feeling of dry eyes can vary. They may feel itchy, sticky or burn. When the eyes become dry it means something has happened to cause the natural lubrication, also known as tears, to dry up. There are many reasons why this may happen. In order to be able to effectively treat dry eyes you need to know why they are occurring in the first place.
Natural Lubrication: The eyes are naturally lubricated by moisture or tears. Tears form a film over the eye that helps to keep them moist. The tears also serve additional purposes, such as rinsing debris from the eye and keeping bacteria from growing in the eye. From time to time something may happen to cause these tears to dry up and thus eliminating the film they form over the eye. When this happens it is a condition called dry eyes. It can be something that happens once in a while or it can be a chronic condition.
What Brings About Dry Eyes:
Dry eyes can be caused by numerous things. If you are in certain conditions, like unnaturally dry conditions, sandy conditions or conditions where there is high heat and low humidity then you may suffer from dry eyes. Air conditioning may also bring about the condition. Many people have dry eyes associated with allergies. Some people may also experience dry eyes from using the computer too long or doing other activities where they are staring and not blinking often enough.
Who Has Dry Eyes:
Dry eyes can happen to anyone. Almost half of all adults suffer from problems with dry eyes. The condition can occur more often as a person ages since the amount of natural tears tend to decrease with age. Anyone who is going through hormonal changes, such as pregnant or menopausal women, people on certain medications or people who have just started wearing contact lenses may experience dry eyes. Pretty much anyone, though, can suffer from dry eyes. You do not have to fit into one of these specific categories of people to suffer from this condition.
Dealing With Dry Eyes:
Proper eye care is essential for someone that suffers form dry eyes. This is because your eyes are not protected by the tear film, making them more susceptible to infection or damage, such as scratches. Eye care should involve not rubbing the eyes and being careful about using products on or near the eyes. Most often dry eyes are treated with eye drops. It is important to follow all directions for using eyes properly. You do not want to risk harming your eyes during treatment.
If you suffer from dry eyes, then you are not alone. Many people have the same condition. There are many treatment options and a range of different eye drops on the market that can help treat dry eyes. It should be rather easy to find the type of treatment that will help resolve your condition and bring you relief.
