What is dry eyes?
Dry eye is a chronic (long-term) condition. This means that once you have had it, it can come back even after it has cleared up. It often affects both eyes, but one eye may be worse than the other.
Dry eye does not normally cause permanent problems with your sight, but in severe cases it can become very painful and cause permanent damage to the front of your eye.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
Dry eye is more common in women and in people aged over 65. It is often just a symptom of getting older. This is because as you get older, your eyelids are not as effective at spreading your tears across your eyes when you blink. Also, the glands in your eyelids that produce the oily part of your tears become less effective as you get older. In some people these glands, which are called Meibomian glands, can become blocked and the lids may become red and uncomfortable. This is a condition blepharitis.
Did you know that central heating may exacerbate dry eyes?
There are some environments that may make your eyes feel more dry. High temperatures and central heating may increase the evaporation of your tears and make your eyes feel more dry, as can draughts and air conditioning.
You may find it helpful to reduce the temperature of your central heating at home and try to avoid draughts near your face, for example by directing car air vents away from your face. Some people find that using a humidifier to put more water into the air may help to slow down the evaporation of their tears.
Other Treatment of Dry Eyes
Avoid using make-up and keep your eyelids clean
Eyeliner, particularly when put on the rim of your eyelid, may block the Meibomian glands that produce the oily part of your tear film. This may cause the area around your eyes to be inflamed. It is important to make sure your keep your eyelids clean, particularly if you have blepharitis.
Use eye lubricants
There are several types of eye lubricants available. Most of these aim to lubricate your eyes by giving you extra moisture. They are available as drops, gels or ointment, and most are available without a prescription. If you find the drops wash out of your eye too quickly, you may find the gel-type better as they are thicker and so stay in your eye for longer.
Ointment is generally used for people whose eyes dry out at night because they do not fully close their eyes. Ointments are usually used only at night because they are sticky and cause blurry vision.
Have treatment to stop the tears draining away
Your tears drain away into your nose through four small drainage channels in your eyelids (one in each of the upper and lower lids). Small plugs, called punctum plugs, can be put into the holes in your lower eyelids to stop the tears draining away and help the tears to stay in your eye for longer. Your optometrist will be able to give advice on this. The plugs can be easily removed if necessary.
Using a computer
Some people find that their eyes feel dry while they are looking at a computer screen (or afterwards). There is no evidence that looking at a computer screen does your eyes any harm, but it may make you blink less often. We recommend that when you use a computer you make sure you blink often and try and look away from the screen regularly, just for a few seconds, to give your eyes a rest.
If you have any concerns, speak to your optometrists.