Eyes can tell us a lot about our health. They are windows into our bodies, which can show symptoms of internal diseases we may not be aware of.
But every now and then, the eyes can become dry, itchy and painful. If you have ever felt this, you have most likely experienced dry eye syndrome and there are many factors which can cause the condition.
According to the NHS, dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes can not make enough tears, or tears evaporate too quickly. This lack of liquid within the eye can result in dryness and swelling.
It is a common condition, but can affect vision if ignored. Dry eye syndrome occurs more with age, especially in women.
Eye care specialist and optometrist Francesca Marchetti from Rohto Dry Aid said: “Having dry eyes can make your eyes water more than usual while feeling itchy and gritty.
“These are the three most common symptoms. However, dry eye sufferers experience other symptoms too, including soreness, tired eyes, stinging, burning and a scratchy feeling in the eye. Blurred vision can occur too, often first thing in the morning.”
Read below to learn what causes dry eye syndrome, as well as what to do if you're eyes become inflamed, as reported by the Mirror.
Dry eye syndrome causes
Conditions increasing dry eye syndrome include:
- Blood pressure medication
- Menopause
- Central heating
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Thyroid conditions
- Sjogren’s syndrome.
According to research, women are more likely to suffer with eye issues than men.
In a real-world survey for Rohto Dry Aid statistics included:
- More than half of women (53.1%) suffered from sore eyes compared with 41.4% of men
- Stinging eyes is a symptom for 32.6% of women compared with 18.4% of men
- Six out of ten women (60.3%) suffer from tired eyes compared with 40.3% of men
- Burning sensation was evident for 20.0% (women) versus 14.14% (men).
You can try something known as the 20-20-20 screen break rule.
Marchetta added: “Treating dry eye is vital and my treatment choice is Rohto Dry Aid as it is a clinically proven with a unique Tearshield Technology formulation and is designed with a range of ingredients to provide the protection and hydration required to tackle dry spots and restore the layers of the natural tear film - which breaks the cycle of dry eye.
“Every 20 minutes look 20 feet away and blink 20 times as blinking helps the flow of tears over the surface of the eyes."
She further advised: “To protect your eye health, it’s important not to ignore dry eye symptoms as more than a fifth of people with dry eye end up with severe dry eye disease, which ultimately will affect night vision, reading and driving.
“Remember hormonal changes before and during the menopause, long screen hours and regular use of antihistamines, antidepressants and diuretics, all affect the amount of moisture in the eye, so make sure you look out for dry eye symptoms so you can treat the issue fast.”
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