Why Are My Eyes So Dry? 8 Causes of Dry Eyes & How To Treat Them
Are you experiencing dry eyes? You aren’t alone. Recent statistics show that 16 million to 49 million Americans suffer from chronic DED (Dry Eye Disease). You can tell when you have chronic dry eyes because you will experience stinging, a gritty sensation, and redness in your eyes. It is vital for everyone with dry eyes to know the underlying causes of dry eyes to help them prevent this condition. Here are eight causes of dry eyes and how to treat them.
- Aging: The older you grow, the higher your risk of getting dry eyes and other eye problems, such as glaucoma. People over 50 years old are prone to dry eyes since age reduces tear production. You can treat age-related chronic dry eyes by using artificial tears to lubricate your eyes.
- Menopause: Hormones can lead to dry eyes, with most women experiencing symptoms of dry eyes during menopause. Menopause can reduce tear production, making women in their menopause years experience chronic eye dryness. Hormone replacement therapy during menopause can help reduce eye irritation and eye dryness.
- Vitamin A Deficiency: Vitamin A is vital for promoting eye health. A diet with fewer vitamin A foods can be a possible cause of chronic eye dryness and other vision problems, including night blindness. Having a blood test can help detect vitamin A deficiencies. You can stop dry eyes due to a vitamin A deficiency by using eye drops with vitamin A and consuming vitamin A-rich foods such as vegetables.
- Wind Exposure: Exposure to strong winds and cold climates can make tears evaporate quickly, resulting in chronic eye dryness. You can protect your eyes from chronic eye dryness by wearing sunglasses to keep your eyes from exposure to strong winds and cold climates. Moreover, remain indoors when there are strong winds, especially if you are prone to dry eyes.
- Allergies: Allergies are also a common trigger of dry eyes. If you have an allergy, your eyes may look red, watery, and also feel itchy. Allergic people can do little to treat their eye dryness due to allergies. Fortunately, you can try getting an oral antihistamine to reduce your allergies. However, such medication can worsen your symptoms of dry eyes. Ask an eye specialist to recommend suitable antihistamine eye drops if you are experiencing dry eye symptoms because of allergies.
- Contact Lenses: Long-term dependence on contact lenses can increase your risk of getting dry eyes. Most people who use contact lenses tend to develop dry eyes because contact lenses prevent oxygen from getting to the cornea. Contact eyes also reduce lubrication in the eyes, exposing contact users to eye dryness over time. Before using contacts to correct your vision problems, talk to an eye specialist about the best contacts to wear if you are prone to eye dryness. Special contacts come with features to help the eyes retain moisture.
- Dehydration: Dehydration can also lead to dry eyes since dehydration denies all your body parts, including the eyes, enough fluids. If you are already susceptible to dry eyes, you will likely experience chronic eye dryness if you don’t take enough fluids. Increase your water and fluid intake to improve symptoms of chronic eye dryness.
- Smoke: Smoking and exposure to smoke can contribute to eye dryness. Persons working or living in smoky environments are at high risk of experiencing chronic eye dryness. Therefore, stay away from smoky environments and quit smoking if you smoke to lower your risk of dry eyes.
There are different causes of dry eyes. Despite the cause of your eye dryness, you can take steps to improve your symptoms and overall eye health. Visit Tayani Institute if you are experiencing dry eyes or any other eye problems.