Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentA Word From VerywellNext in Dry Eye Syndrome GuideSymptoms of Dry Eye
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
A Word From Verywell
Next in Dry Eye Syndrome Guide
Dry eye syndrome, also calledkeratitissicca, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or xerophthalmia is a recurrent or persistent sensation of dryness of the eyes. The condition is uncomfortable and it can interfere with your quality of life. You may have trouble keeping your eyes open or you may not be able to work or drive due to severe dryness of your eyes.
Dry eye disease can vary from mild to extremely severe. Getting treatment for your dry eyes can make a big difference in easing your discomfort.
Just as the name suggests, this condition makes the eyes feel dry, scratchy, andgritty. You may experience these symptoms all the time or intermittently. They tend to worsen after a long day, and they are generally less noticeable right when you wake up.
Common symptoms of dry eye syndrome may include:
An Overview of Dry Eye Syndrome
Reflex Tears
Dry eyescan actually cause your eyes to water. The tears are similar to the tear production that is triggered when something gets in your eye. They are called reflex tears.
Reflex tears don’t have the same lubricating qualities as the tears that normally protect your eyes, so they do not prevent dry eyes.
Complications
Most people who have dry eyes experience mild irritation with no long-term effects. But if the condition is left untreated or becomes severe, eye damage and even vision loss can occur.
Severe problems with dry eyes can cause:
Tears serve as a protective coating, keeping the eyes moist, providing essential nutrients, and washing away dust and other particles. The tear film is made of water, oil, and mucus, all of which are important for maintaining good eye health.
The cornea, which covers the front of the eye, needs to be continuously bathed in tears, which protect it against infection. Dry eyes develop when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or don’t produce theright quality of tears.
There are several common factors that lead to dry eye syndrome.
What Causes Dry Eyes All of a Sudden Without a Previous History?
Environmental Factors
Environmental conditions can lead to dry eyes. This can be especially bothersome if you are frequently exposed to these conditions.
Some people are more susceptible to developing dry eyes in response to environmental conditions, and this could be related to having other risk factors for dry eyes, such as contact lenses or autoimmune disease.
Aging
Agingis one of the most common causes of dry eyes because tear production decreases as we get older, and the lids are unable to spread out the tears like they used to.
Not Blinking Enough
Additionally, anything that causes an issue with the blink reflex can interfere with blinking.
Possibilities include:
Contact Lenses
About half of all people who wear contact lenses complain of dry eyes.Soft contact lenses, which float on the tear film that covers the cornea, absorb the tears in the eyes, contributing to eye dryness.
The 7 Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes
Laser Vision Correction and Other Procedures
Dry eye syndrome may begin or worsen after LASIK and other refractive surgeries, in which the corneal nerves are cut during the creation of a corneal flap. The corneal nerves stimulate tear secretion.
If you’ve had dry eyes and are thinking about refractive surgery, this potential side effect is something to consider because it will make your dry eyes worse.
Medications
Eye Conditions
Several conditionsthat affect the eyes can also cause dry eyes.
A few of these include:
Autoimmune Diseases
Some autoimmune diseases can affect the tear glands.
Autoimmune conditions that can cause dry eyes include:
Diagnosis of dry eyes often involves ruling out other eye conditions and medical conditions.
Some of the effects of dry eyes can be similar to the effects of allergies, viral conjunctivitis (pink eye), corneal abrasion, migraines, andBell’s palsy(when facial weakness prevents you from closing your eyelid).
If you have other issues, such as eye discharge, eye crusting, sneezing, congestion, headaches, vision changes, or tingling of your face, this can point to another cause of your symptoms besides dry eyes.
Your healthcare provider may examine your eye or refer you to an eye doctor, who can perform specialized tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.
People who have undiagnosed vision problems may squint or feel a type of eye discomfort that can be confused with dry eyes, so you might have a vision test.
Specialized tests may include:
In addition to determining whether you have dry eyes, your healthcare providers will also work with you to determine the cause. If there is a concern that you could have a medical condition causing your dry eyes, you may need blood tests to assess for signs of systemic diseases.
Prevention is a key factor inmanaging dry eyes, If environmental factors are the cause, protective eyewear or using a humidifier can be helpful. If you wear contact lenses, paying close attention to changing them when necessary is important.
There are several treatment approaches that can help with dry eyes, includingself-care, over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears, prescription medications, and interventional procedures.
Artificial Tears
The first line of treatment for dry eyes is usually OTC demulcent drops, also known as artificial tears. Artificial tears temporarily lubricate the eye and ease symptoms. Always read the directions, but these products can generally be used as often as needed throughout the day.
Commonly found ingredients in these products include hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, the ingredient in Bion Tears and GenTeal, and carboxymethylcellulose, contained in Refresh Plus and Thera Tears.
How to Choose Artificial Tears
If you wear contact lenses, use drops specifically indicated for use with contact lenses. Other types of drops may contain ingredients that damage the lens.
Prescription Medications
Miebo (perfluorohexyloctane), Restasis, Vevye (cyclosporine), and Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) are approved for the treatment of dry eyes. Cyclosporine helps the eye produce tears, while Xiidra reduces the inflammation that may cause decreased tear production.
Keep in mind that prescription medications can cause side effects and they are not necessarily right for everyone.
How to Stop Watery Eyes: 10 Methods to Try
Punctal Plugs
In each eye, there are four puncta, which are small openings that drain tears into the tear ducts. Punctal plugs can be inserted into the puncta to block tear drainage, preserving your tears in your eyes.
The risks of punctal plugs are fairly minimal, but there is a risk of eye irritation, excessive tearing, and, in rare cases, infection.
You may still need to use artificial tears after having a punctal plug insertion.
If you think that you may have dry eyes, it is important that you discuss it with your healthcare provider. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can also cause complications. Getting the right diagnosis is the first step in making sure that you can find an effective treatment for your dry eyes.
Getting the Most From Your Dry Eye Treatment
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Dry Eye? 2019.Ehrhart IC, Parker PE, Weidner WJ, Dabney JM, Scott JB, Haddy FJ. Coronary vascular and myocardial responses to carotid body stimulation in the dog. Am J Physiol. 1975;229(3):754-60. DOI:10.1155/2017/4675401Greiner KL, Walline JJ.Dry Eye in Pediatric Contact Lens Wearers.Eye Contact Lens.2010;36(6):352-355. doi:10.1097/ICL.0b013e3181f8bc25American Optometric Association.Dry Eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Dry Eye Diagnosis and Treatment. 2020.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Punctal Plugs. 2020.Additional Readingde Araujo DD, Silva DVA, Rodrigues CAO, Silva PO, Macieira TGR, Chianca TCM.Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions to Prevent Dry Eye in Critically Ill Patients.Am J Crit Care. 2019 Jul;28(4):299-306. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2019360.Rabina G, Boguslavsky II, Mimouni M, Kaiserman I.The Association between Preoperative Dry Eye Symptoms and Postoperative Discomfort in Patients Underwent Photorefractive Keratectomy.J Ophthalmol. 2019 Feb 18;2019:7029858. doi: 10.1155/2019/7029858. eCollection 2019.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Dry Eye? 2019.Ehrhart IC, Parker PE, Weidner WJ, Dabney JM, Scott JB, Haddy FJ. Coronary vascular and myocardial responses to carotid body stimulation in the dog. Am J Physiol. 1975;229(3):754-60. DOI:10.1155/2017/4675401Greiner KL, Walline JJ.Dry Eye in Pediatric Contact Lens Wearers.Eye Contact Lens.2010;36(6):352-355. doi:10.1097/ICL.0b013e3181f8bc25American Optometric Association.Dry Eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Dry Eye Diagnosis and Treatment. 2020.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Punctal Plugs. 2020.Additional Readingde Araujo DD, Silva DVA, Rodrigues CAO, Silva PO, Macieira TGR, Chianca TCM.Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions to Prevent Dry Eye in Critically Ill Patients.Am J Crit Care. 2019 Jul;28(4):299-306. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2019360.Rabina G, Boguslavsky II, Mimouni M, Kaiserman I.The Association between Preoperative Dry Eye Symptoms and Postoperative Discomfort in Patients Underwent Photorefractive Keratectomy.J Ophthalmol. 2019 Feb 18;2019:7029858. doi: 10.1155/2019/7029858. eCollection 2019.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Dry Eye? 2019.Ehrhart IC, Parker PE, Weidner WJ, Dabney JM, Scott JB, Haddy FJ. Coronary vascular and myocardial responses to carotid body stimulation in the dog. Am J Physiol. 1975;229(3):754-60. DOI:10.1155/2017/4675401Greiner KL, Walline JJ.Dry Eye in Pediatric Contact Lens Wearers.Eye Contact Lens.2010;36(6):352-355. doi:10.1097/ICL.0b013e3181f8bc25American Optometric Association.Dry Eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Dry Eye Diagnosis and Treatment. 2020.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Punctal Plugs. 2020.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Dry Eye? 2019.
Ehrhart IC, Parker PE, Weidner WJ, Dabney JM, Scott JB, Haddy FJ. Coronary vascular and myocardial responses to carotid body stimulation in the dog. Am J Physiol. 1975;229(3):754-60. DOI:10.1155/2017/4675401
Greiner KL, Walline JJ.Dry Eye in Pediatric Contact Lens Wearers.Eye Contact Lens.2010;36(6):352-355. doi:10.1097/ICL.0b013e3181f8bc25
American Optometric Association.Dry Eye.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Dry Eye Diagnosis and Treatment. 2020.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Punctal Plugs. 2020.
de Araujo DD, Silva DVA, Rodrigues CAO, Silva PO, Macieira TGR, Chianca TCM.Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions to Prevent Dry Eye in Critically Ill Patients.Am J Crit Care. 2019 Jul;28(4):299-306. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2019360.Rabina G, Boguslavsky II, Mimouni M, Kaiserman I.The Association between Preoperative Dry Eye Symptoms and Postoperative Discomfort in Patients Underwent Photorefractive Keratectomy.J Ophthalmol. 2019 Feb 18;2019:7029858. doi: 10.1155/2019/7029858. eCollection 2019.
de Araujo DD, Silva DVA, Rodrigues CAO, Silva PO, Macieira TGR, Chianca TCM.Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions to Prevent Dry Eye in Critically Ill Patients.Am J Crit Care. 2019 Jul;28(4):299-306. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2019360.
Rabina G, Boguslavsky II, Mimouni M, Kaiserman I.The Association between Preoperative Dry Eye Symptoms and Postoperative Discomfort in Patients Underwent Photorefractive Keratectomy.J Ophthalmol. 2019 Feb 18;2019:7029858. doi: 10.1155/2019/7029858. eCollection 2019.
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