Dry eyes: causes and symptoms

Dry eyes are a very common ailment that can turn your days into a little nightmare. If you have never suffered from it and want to understand what it entails, imagine waking up in the morning and feeling like someone has replaced your eyes with a pair of deserts: dry, irritated and terribly uncomfortable. This is only the start of the many problems caused by dry eyes.

You can imagine that living with this annoyance isn’t particularly pleasant and that those who suffer from it want nothing more than to return to normal as soon as possible.

But what is the root of the problem? Let’s identify how dry eyes manifest and what the causes are, to understand how to stem them and prevent this annoying ailment.

The symptoms in detail

When your eyes are dry, it’s not just a matter of discomfort: it’s usually not a curable condition with a simple refreshing and soothing eye drop, except when it manifests very lightly.

Dry eyes can have a significant impact on your daily life. Imagine trying to read your favorite book or watch a movie and having to stop all the time to rub your eyes. Or worse, imagine having to drive at night with blurred vision.

It’s easy to understand how the quality of your life can be seriously affected.

Let’s analyze some of these symptoms in more depth, to understand how to recognize the dryness of the eye and see if you might also fit into this picture.

1. burning sensation and irritation – when the eye surface becomes inflamed, it becomes more vulnerable without proper lubrication. In worst cases, the reported sensation is like a constant fire in the eyes;
2. redness – redness is a sign of inflammation and can be an indicator that your eyes are struggling to maintain a physiological condition for themselves. It is usually one of the first alarm bells to acknowledge and keep under control;
3. blurred vision – when your eyes are not well lubricated, the surface is not smooth and clear, condition that can cause foggy or blurry vision;
4. sensitivity to light – the lack of protective tears makes the eyes more susceptible to light rays and causes discomfort even with moderate lights;
5. eye fatigue – the lack of moisture makes it difficult for your eyes to work effectively, leading to rapid fatigue.

The leading causes of eye dryness

The causes of eye dryness are numerous, and can result from a combination of factors, including:

• age – as we age, our tear glands produce fewer tears. Obviously this is a natural process, but it must be analyzed by taking into account any medical conditions that could make the picture more complex;
• hormones – hormonal imbalances, especially during menopause, can reduce the production of tears. While this is obviously true for women, men men can also be effected in the same way during andropause;
• drugs – we know that there are some drugs that affect the tear production. Known examples are diuretics, anticholinergics, antidepressants, beta-blockers and decongestants. If you take medications that fall into these categories and suspect that they may be the cause of a dry eye condition, consult your doctor for possible alternatives;
• medical conditions – autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome, which attacks the glands that produce tears, can cause severe eye dryness;
• environment – strong wind, smoke and pollution can make tears dry faster than they are produced, making environmental conditions one of the most frequent causes for cases of acute dry eyes.

Red and dry eyes: more factors

The sensation of dry eyes, alone, is easily attributable to one (or more) of the causes analyzed previously.

But when we talk about red and dry eyes, the causes to be analyzed can be different, such as allergies. Allergic reactions not only cause itching and watery eyes, but can also cause dryness due to the dilution of tears with allergic tears, which are less effective in lubricating the eye.

We must also consider prolonged use of contact lenses. If not properly sanitized or worn too long, contact lenses can interfere with normal eye lubrication.

Another very common trigger nowadays is the abuse of display time. Computer vision syndrome is real: watching screens for prolonged periods reduces the rate of blinking, which is essential for the uniform distribution of tears on the eye surface.

Finally, infections such as conjunctivitis can inflame the surface of the eye, reducing tear production and causing dryness.

Dry eyes upon awakening: causes

If you wake up every morning with eyes that look like sandpaper, there are several causes to consider that lead to waking up with dry eyes.

Let’s start by considering the context: did you sleep in a dry environment? Low humidity in your room can drain your eyes while you sleep, but using humidifiers can help keep the air less dry.

Also, do you sleep with your eyes half open? This condition, called lagophthalmos, can expose the eye surface to air, drying tears. To help, you can try using eye gel or ointments before bed.

There are also rarer situations that must be taken into account nonetheless. We’re talking about dry eyes in people suffering from sleep apnea: this can occur because CPAP machines used to treat sleep apnea often circulate dry air, which can contribute to dry eyes. There are special masks with built-in humidifiers to mitigate this problem.

Dry eyes: how to prevent them

We will give ample space to the remedies for dry eyes in a dedicated in-depth segment.

For the moment we want to get into the merits of preventive action: now that we know the causes and symptoms of the problem, let’s see how we can prevent it.

1. Use of artificial tears: lubricating eye drops can provide immediate relief, although very often they do not solve a problem already manifested in a decisive way. As a preventive measure, however, they can help to avoid being in situations of greater discomfort.
2. Humidifiers: keeping the air in your home moist can help prevent dry eyes.
3. Eye protection: use sunglasses to protect your eyes from wind and sun.
4. Screen breaks: take regular breaks when using electronic devices to reduce eye fatigue.
5. Nutrition and hydration: make sure you have a diet rich in omega-3 and drink plenty of water to maintain good eye hydration.

In this field, great benefits have been found in people who had been suffering from dry eyes and regularly took Osidra, a hyaluronic acid-based product, therefore completely natural, capable of moisturizing the body from the inside. The sublingual intake, in fact, guarantees a complete assimilation of the active ingredient, with a bioavailability of 100% and an action targeted directly where the body needs it most, the eyes being in first place, as naturally rich in hyaluronic acid.

Conclusions

Knowing the symptoms and the causes of eye dryness is the first step towards relief.

If you often find yourself with dry eyes upon waking up or have red and dry eyes, taking helpful measures can significantly improve your well-being.

Dry eyes don’t have to rule your life: consult an ophthalmologist for a proper diagnosis and find out how to protect your eyes and keep them healthy and happy every day with Osidra, the lasting solution to your problem.