What is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease occurs for people when their tears do not sufficiently lubricate their eyes. This can be because the tear ducts in the eyes are not producing enough tears, or the tear fluid does not have the right viscousness to provide proper lubrication.
In addition to experiencing discomfort with normal movement of the eyeballs, people suffering from dry eye disease may also experience eyeball inflammation and damage to the eye surface if dry eye disease is left untreated. Dry eye disease is more common for people over 50 years of age, and it occurs more frequently for women than it does for men.
What Causes Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease may be caused by hormone changes, eyelid gland inflammation, autoimmune disease, or allergic eye disease. Some people may experience dry eye disease symptoms due to environmental factors and be experiencing increased tear evaporation, but this is only temporary. Once removed from that environment their eye dryness will subside.
Dry eye disease may also develop because of long-term keratoconjunctivitis sicca when the tear ducts lose their ability to produce tears. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca may result from scleroderma, Sjogrenโs syndrome, thyroid disorders, or a prolonged Vitamin A deficiency.
Treatment for Dry Eye Disease
The standard approach for dry eye disease treatment is to use artificial tears eye drops to relieve eye dryness, and then using preventative measures like adding moisture to indoor air with a humidifier, avoiding having air blown into the eyes with fans, air conditioners, or hair dryers, taking long breaks during task that involve extensive eye focus or movement, and avoiding irritants or anything that promotes eye inflammation.
