 | Symptoms & Causes |  | The Symptoms of Dry Eyes
In the same way that there are many factors that can lead to dry feeling eyes, every sufferer may experience different symptoms of differing severity. The common symptoms are: | - Feeling of dryness
- Itchiness or scratchiness
- Burning or stinging
- Foreign body sensation
- Grittiness Tired eyes
- Forced blinking
- Increased light sensitivty
|  |
| There are many different factors that can contribute to dry feeling eyes:
Dry environment - central heating or air conditioning can increase the evaporation of tears and windy weather can exacerbate the feeling of tired, irritating eyes.
Wearing contact lenses or doing anything that reduces blinking may make your eyes more uncomfortable, such as watching TV or using a computer screen.
Ageing - dry feeling eyes are more prevalent in people aged 45+ due to reduced tear production.
Hormonal changes - women in particular can become more susceptible to dry feeling eyes when they approach the menopause.
Medication - certain prescription and over the counter medicines can lead to a reduction in wetting of the eye surface, particularly hormone treatments like the contraceptive pill and HRT.
Poor diet - supplementing your diet with vitamins, minerals and essential oils have been shown to help with dry feeling eyes. |
| | | | | Blepharitis - crusting and irritation at the base of lashes.
Allergic conjunctivitis - the primary symptom for this condition is itchy eyes. Patients' eyes may also exhibit increased mucus production. Onset of this condition is commonly seasonal, and it may be associated with hay fever, asthma and eczema.
Lacrimal drainage obstruction - patients often have symptoms of tearing with actual and demonstrable tear overflow.
Dry eyelid skin - patients complain of "dry eyes." This condition underscores the importance of accurate localization of symptoms.
Foreign body - patients experience a chronic sensation of having a foreign body in their eye. This sensation results from exogenous material or an exposed meibomian-gland derived conjunctival concretion.
Blepharospasm - patients may complain that their eyes feel "tired." Careful questioning reveals that patients are experiencing an involuntary closure of the eyes, rather than eye irritation. Driving, reading and exposure to sunlight worsen symptoms. |
| Test your own eyes
To see if you are suffering from dry feeling eyes, try this simple self test:- Obtain a watch or clock with a second hand;
- Blink twice then stare straight ahead, taking care to start timing immediately after your second blink;
- Avoid blinking as long as possible;
- Note the time on the clock when you begin to feel discomfort (burning, grittiness, a feeling of dryness or forcing you to blink)
The amount of time between your last blink and the start of your eyes feeling uncomfortable is a measure of the extent that your eyes are feeling tired and dry. If the difference is 5 seconds or less, you are suffering from dry feeling eyes and you need to rehydrate your eyes. This is because the tear film on your eye(s) is breaking up too soon and leaving your eye's surface unprotected. |
|
|
|
