What are the Symptoms of Dry Eyes?
February 5, 2024
Did you know that having wet or teary eyes isn't always bad? If your eyes are wet or you feel like they are more watery than they should be, it could be because they are too dry.
Having dry eyes can be uncomfortable. However, you don't have to deal with the discomfort of dry eyes if your eyes aren't receiving proper lubrication.
If you have dry eyes, treatment options are available to help your eyes feel more comfortable and return to living without discomfort. Keep reading to learn more about dry eyes and what the symptoms of dry eyes are to best treat them.
What are Dry Eyes?
Dry eye syndrome is a condition that occurs when the eyes can't produce enough lubrication or the tears being produced are low in quality. Dry eye syndrome impacts the layers of tears covering the cornea or the outer part of your eye.
Your eyes have a tear film with three layers of tears that protect the eye's surface. The tear film has a water layer, an oil layer, and a mucus layer.
It needs to be stable for you to have clear and comfortable vision. When the tear film is damaged or not working correctly, it can cause dry eyes, which leads to many uncomfortable symptoms.
What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome to Develop?
Often, dry eyes are a sign of another medical condition or due to environmental factors. In other cases, dry eyes can develop on their own.
Sometimes, dry eye syndrome may be a sign of a problem like:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid eye diseases
- Blepharitis
- Sjögren's syndrome
There are many underlying factors and causes of tear film disruption or damage, so the best way to get information on the underlying causes is to see your ophthalmologist at Select Eye Care.
Dry eyes will usually happen for one of three reasons:
- Your eyes aren't producing enough tears.
- The tears in your eyes are evaporating too quickly.
- You have a combination of these two factors.
Because the causes and underlying conditions are complex and often intersecting, seeing a professional when you have dry eye issues is always recommended.
Are Your Eyes Dry?
Dry Eye Risk Factors
In some cases, dry eye is a passing environmental problem that resolves quickly. In other cases, it's persistent and requires treatment to help you get the relief you need.
Some of the risk factors that increase your risk of developing dry eye syndrome include:
Environmental Factors
The weather and climate you live in can increase your risk of developing dry eye syndrome. Allergies can also exacerbate symptoms of dry eyes.
Lifestyle
Smoking, contact lens use, and screen time are also linked to dry eyes.
Medications
Certain medications may increase the likelihood of developing dry eyes, like antidepressants, antihistamines, and birth control pills.
Medical Conditions
Some neurological, autoimmune, and endocrine problems like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma can cause dry eyes.
Certain Surgical Procedures
Some surgical procedures, like LASIK, can increase your risk of developing dry eyes, but it's usually temporary.
Common Symptoms of Dry Eyes
If you have dry eye syndrome, you may experience other symptoms besides dryness. Although having dry eyes can be something that happens when you have dry eye syndrome, you may experience other symptoms like:
Watering
Although the name dry eye syndrome seems to imply dry eyes, it's not uncommon to experience watery eyes with the eye condition. You may experience more watery eyes because the meibomian glands in your eyes aren't making enough oils to protect the tear film.
Because of this, the middle layer of the tear film evaporates too quickly. When this happens, your meibomian glands will create overly watery tears to try and combat the issue.
Dryness
Unsurprisingly, dryness is one of the most common symptoms of dry eye syndrome. If your eyes aren't as wet or lubricated as usual, consider seeing your eye doctor at Select Eye Care to discuss your symptoms and find the best treatment.
Burning or Stinging
Experiencing a burning or stinging feeling in your eyes can be disruptive. These symptoms are often indicative of an eye condition like dry eye syndrome.
Let your eye doctor know if you experience them, as it could be a sign of dry eye syndrome or another eye condition.
Mucus Around the Eye
If you notice mucus in or around your eye, this is a cause for concern. Even if the mucus isn't from dry eye syndrome, you should still have your eyes evaluated during an eye exam with your ophthalmologist.
Light Sensitivity
Have you noticed that your eyes are more sensitive to light? Do they tear up in the sun or under bright indoor lighting?
This is a symptom of dry eyes as well as other eye conditions.
Gritty Sensation
Another common and uncomfortable symptom of dry eye syndrome is a sandy or gritty sensation in your eyes. It may feel like you have something in your eye that you can't remove. However, there won't be anything in your eye called foreign body sensation.
Blurry Vision
Blurring vision or other changes in your eyesight can have many underlying causes. But, if you notice issues with your vision in connection with other symptoms, dry eye could be the culprit.
Blurry vision is always a cause for concern. Schedule an eye exam with your eye doctor if you're experiencing changes in your vision, including blurry vision.
How are Dry Eyes Treated?
At Select Eye Care, we will assess your dry eye to determine possible underlying causes. From there, we have many potential treatment options and will figure out the best ones for you.
To start with, we may recommend some at-home treatments, such as:
- Using warm compresses in the morning and evening
- Nighttime eye ointments
- Artificial tears
- Lid scrubs
If these don't work or you're experiencing more severe symptoms of dry eye syndrome, we also provide medication for treating dry eyes, such as:
- Steroid eye drops
- Custom-made serum eye drops
- Punctal plugs
- High doses of omega-3 fatty acids by ingestion
- Time-release tear tablets
- Other medications and eye drops
If you have dry eyes, you don't have to continue suffering. Get the relief you need by requesting an appointment today at Select Eye Care in Elkridge and Towson, MD!