Dry eye syndrome is a condition that causes your eyes to produce very few tears or causes the tears produced to evaporate too quickly. Millions of people have this condition, but it remains undiagnosed in most cases because its causes and symptoms are misunderstood. But having the correct information can help you get your eyes to feel more comfortable and gain clearer vision.

Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome

Several factors cause dry eyes, disrupting the three-layer tear film that protects your cornea. The tear film is made up of a combination of fatty oils, watery fluid, and mucus that keeps the surface of your cornea smooth, lubricated, and clear. A problem with one or more of the three layers causes dry eyes.

Factors that may cause dry eye syndrome are:

Reduced Tear Production

Your eye surface starts to dry up if your eyes cannot produce enough of the liquid, watery tears. This is a medical condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, commonly caused by the following:
 

• Advanced age

• Medical conditions like allergic eye diseases, lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, thyroid disorders, or scleroderma

• Medications like decongestants, antidepressants, antihistamines, hormone replacement therapy, and those taken for Parkinson’s disease, blood pressure, birth control, and acne

• Desensitized corneal nerve due to nerve damage, use of contact lenses, or laser eye surgery

Increased Tear Evaporation

Dry eye happens when the meibomian glands in your eyes fail to make enough of the oils that form the outer layer of your tear film. The gland ducts may also become clogged and fail to release these oils. With a weakened outer layer, the watery middle layer evaporates quickly. Even when your eye glands produce more watery tears in compensation, the watery layer cannot coat your cornea correctly, causing dry eye.

Common reasons for increased tear evaporation are:
 

• Eye allergies

• Vitamin A deficiency

• Posterior blepharitis, a dysfunction of the meibomian gland

• The preservatives in topical eye drops

• Being in a place with dry air, wind, or smoke

• Eye problems like ectropion (eyelids turn outward) and entropion (eyelids turn inward)

• Infrequent eye blinking, which happens when you’re intently focusing on something like driving or reading. Parkinson’s disease also reduces blinking

• Staring at a computer screen for a prolonged period

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye is associated with a range of symptoms, which include:
 

• Excessive tearing

• Light sensitivity

• Sensitivity to wind or smoke

• Straining to keep your eyes open

• Eye fatigue, even after reading for a short time

• Eye soreness or redness

• A gritty sensation in the eyes

• A burning or stinging sensation in the eyes

• Double vision

• Blurred vision, particularly as the day ends

• Eyes producing a stringy mucus

• Eyelids stuck together when waking up

• Difficulty driving at night

• Contact lenses feeling uncomfortable

• Severe eye pain for some people

Visit an Eye Doctor 

For more on the causes and symptoms of dry eye syndrome, visit Franklin Family Eye Care at our Mt. Juliet, Tennessee office. Call (615) 754-4733 to schedule an appointment today.