What are the Causes of Dry Eyes

By Julian Berson

Dry eye, as the name says, is a discomforting state of eyes, in which the eyes are limited to dump tears. There is a special layer possessed by human eyes, known as tear film, which is responsible for creating tears. In the dry eye syndrome, this film is disabled to work reasonably to secrete the specified amount of tears. The symptoms of dry eye include itching and burning sensation, discomfort in eyes, unacceptable vision, tear secretion while watching Television, stringing eye muscles and discomfort with contact lenses.

What Leads To Dry Eye

Dry eye is caused due to a number of factors related to age, place of living, job and activities carried out by the patient and many more. Some of the most important factors behind dry eye include:

- Old age, in which less oil is produced by body
- Polluted environment having excess of smoke particles
- Use of contact lenses
- A considerable number of sicknesses like Sjogren's Syndrome and osseous rheumatism
- Nerve-wrangling working, especially on PC
- Dry heat and air conditioning units that soak away the tears from eye surface

Dry Eye Treatment - The Options Available

In case, you experience dry eye syndrome, you must consult an optometrist to understand about diverse dry eye treatment possibilities available. Firstly, it is imperative to diagnose the level of dry eye syndrome before beginning the dry eye treatment. For this purpose, you will follow any one of the following tests:

1. Shimmer Test - In this test, bits of paper are put on the lower eyelid to look at the amount of tears available in your eyes.

2. Tear Break Up Test - In this test, a solution is pored in the eye to grasp the process of tear emission.

The most common dry eye treatment options include:

- Drinking lots of water
- Avoid sitting straight in front of fan and air conditioner
- Avoid places having extraordinary climate conditions
- Blinking the eyes more frequently
- Wear wrap-around glasses to avoid heat and air
- Avoid smoking
- Scrub the eyelids with warm water and mild shampoo

The products that might provide assistance in dry eye treatment include:

- Punctal Plugs - These are made up of collagen or silicon and block the drainage system of eyes to conserve tears in the eyes.
- Vitamin A medications - As we all know, Vitamin An is mandatory for eyes, therefore most optometrists recommend Vitamin A medications like BioTears for dry eye treatment.
- Synthesised Tears Generators - There are a bunch of products available in market that help the eyes to supply synthesised drops. For example, Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma eye drops are found to highly effective in this direction.
- Restasis - This is the ophthalmic eye drop that helps to reduce the redness round the eye channels carrying mucin and lipids.
- Other products include flax seed oil, lubricating gels and antibiotics that are advised by the optometrist.

Along with these prescribed medicines, one must focus on eating sensibly by consuming foods rich in Vitamins and Minerals. You can consult your local optometrist to get advised on the food items to be consumed as one part of dry eye treatment.

About the Author:

Julian Berson is a prize winning optician based in Leeds, offering the highest in personal service, eye care, designer glasses at cost-effective prices, together with providing a mobile optician visiting service for the aged and the ones that can't simply get out of the house.For some more info, drop by our site at www.eyevisionproblems.blogspot.com