Do You Have Dry Eye Syndrome?


What's the first thing that comes to mind when we think of tears - either we show tears when we are laughing, crying or if we are yawning. The truth is, our tears are produced throughout the day to lubricate our eye as well as to prevent damage to it. If you have healthy eyes, you won't even feel your tears doing their work silently. Its only when you suffer from dry eyes will you feel their deficiency.

Tears comprise of water, oils, proteins and mucus. It is a complex combination of these things that bathe your eye and supply a constant layer that ensures that your eye is protected from damage and irritation. The absence of tears causes your eyes to become blood red and irritated.

Simply put, having dry eyes means that your eye has less moisture than needed to lubricate it. A lot of factors contribute to this phenomenon. There are a lot of reliable methods to cure you of dry eye syndrome. The biggest cause for this syndrome is the environment. If you are already a victim of dry eye syndrome, you may already know that your environment can make it a lot worse. Common factors that can affect you are:

· Dry surroundings · Wind · Smoky atmosphere · Air Conditioning

· Sunlight Of course, the cause of dry eye syndrome can be an assortment of other things, which can vary from minor to major. For example, if there is a lack of moisture in the air around you, you can have dry eyes. A dry tear duct is also caused by medications, as well as old age and linked conditions, like menopause. Those who wear contact lens also tend to suffer from dry eyes, especially when they wear their lenses long periods of time. Dry eyes can be a caused as a by-product of another disease like lupus, and has even been linked to dry macular conditions of the eye. If you are exposed to any of these factors a lot and regularly, you will see an increase in irritation levels, and if this happens, you should immediately meet your eye doctor so that the condition doesn't get any worse. While you are there, also crosscheck for dry macular conditions. Remember to look after your eyes properly, as they are one of the most sensitive parts of your body.

If you are a person who wears contact lenses, you are also at risk. A lot depends on the quality of the contact lens, related products you use, the amount you wear them, and how you look after your contacts. The contact lens you wear tend to make your eyes much more susceptible to your environment, and eye care products can dry your eyes if used incorrectly. As you get older, your chances of having dry macular or dry eye syndrome is much higher. Research has found that around 75% of older people have one type of dry eye condition or the other.