What Causes Dry Eye? | InVision Eye Care Specialists

Dry eye is a common condition that can impact eye health and vision. Here, the experienced team at InVision Eye Care Specialists discusses dry eye and its causes. If you live in the Lakewood, Ocean County or Monmouth County, New Jersey areas and are suffering from dry eye, you should visit InVision Eye Care Specialists.

What Is Dry Eye?

The surface of your eye is coated by a tear film, which is composed of three layers:

• A water layer

• An oil layer

• A mucus layer

Each layer has a specific function. When something impacts one or more layers of the tear film or the eyes do not make enough tears, the result is dry eye.

Dry eye can have a number of symptoms, which vary in severity and by patient. Symptoms of dry eye include the following:

• Stinging or burning of the eyes

• Blurry vision

• Scratchy eyes

• Mucus around the eyes

• Red eyes

• Irritated eyes

• Pain from wearing contact lenses

• Excessive tearing of the eyes

If the last symptom confuses you, that’s okay. It does seem odd that if you have dry eye, you will have more tears. However, dry eye is precisely why you may have excess tears because your body is producing more tears in response to dry eye.

What Causes Dry Eye?

Now that you know a little bit more about dry eye, you may be wondering what causes dry eye. The answer is not so simple. Dry eye can have a number of causes. Its most common causes are age and hormonal fluctuations. As we age, our eyes tend to make fewer tears. Both men and women can suffer from dry eye, but it tends to be more common in post-menopausal women. Other causes of dry eye include the following:

• Environmental factors such as a dry climate, smoke or wind

• Any activity that involves a lot of staring and decreased blinking such as watching television, reading or staring at a computer screen

• Blepharitis (an inflammation of the eyelids)

• Demodex (eyelid mites) overgrowth

• Rosacea

• Contact lens usage

• Eye surgery

• Nutritional deficiency

• Entropion (when the eyelids turn inward)

• Ectropion (when the eyelids turn outward)

• Certain medications including antihistamines, antidepressants, beta blockers, diuretics, anticholinergics, retinols and hormone replacement therapy

• Certain diseases such as lupus, diabetes, thyroid disease, Sjogren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis

Get Dry Eye Relief Today

If you are ready to treat your dry eyes, please call (732) 607-8515 to arrange an appointment. The talented doctors at InVision Eye Care Specialists see patients from the Monmouth County, Ocean County and Lakewood, New Jersey areas.