Causes, symptoms and possible treatment for dry eye
Dry eyes are the result of a tear film that is not intact. There are various causes for this. One common cause is environmental conditions. Diseases and an unbalanced diet can also cause dry eyes.
This is usually treated with eye drops, but there are also other types of treatment.
Many people notice that their eyes are dry from time to time. This dryness can also indicate a chronic and usually progressive clinical picture. The so-called "dry eye syndrome" is also technically known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or sicca syndrome.
What is dry eye syndrome?
Sicca syndrome is usually caused by a disorder of the tear film.
There are two variants of this disorder:
- too little tear fluid is produced to moisturize the eye well
- or the balance of the tear film is disturbed so that the fluid evaporates too quickly.
Dry eye syndrome is a well-known eye disease as it is very common. Depending on the age group, it can affect up to 15% of people. It occurs more frequently with increasing age.
Dry eyes - the causes are usually commonplace
Many symptoms of the syndrome can be seen in everyday life. It is also difficult to tell whether you just have dry eye or whether you are affected by sicca syndrome. As all the symptoms are practically the same in both situations.
Here are some of the causes of dry eye:
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Environmental conditions: Wind, low humidity, polluted air, cigarette smoke and air-conditioned rooms.
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Changes in the body: Dry eyes often occur in connection with hormonal changes. For example, during pregnancy or puberty. Another factor is medication and a lack of nutrients.
- Diseases: Dry eye syndrome can also be caused by underlying diseases. Allergies also have a negative effect on the tear film of the eyes and can contribute to suffering from dry eyes.
Symptoms of dry eyes
Common symptoms of dry eyes are burning, itching and a foreign body sensation. However, there is also the possibility of increased lacrimation. The tear fluid produced must also have the right composition to be able to supply the eye.
If this is not the case, the eye reacts with increased production of tear fluid.
In rare cases, you may also experience pain or stinging in the eyes. In this case, you should urgently consult an ophthalmologist.
Treatment of dry eyes
It is important to first recognize whether a possible underlying disease is the cause of the dry eyes. If this is the case, it must also be treated.
If an underlying disease can be ruled out, then the treatment should focus on the eyes.
All treatment methods serve to improve the tear film or the quality of the tear film.
Here are some simple tips on how to keep the tear film stable or even improve it:
- Nutrition is an important part of our general health. Omega-3 fatty acids support the production and positively influence the quality of the tear film. These are found in linseed oil, salmon, chia seeds and walnuts. It is also important to drink plenty of water.
- When using make-up - especially around the eyes - it is important to remove it thoroughly. General hygiene and thorough washing of the eyes reduce the formation of bacteria.
- When working at a screen, it is important to take frequent breaks to relieve the strain on your eyes and prevent them from drying out.
- It is important for contact lens wearers to take a break from wearing their lenses for about 1-2 days a week. The wearing time during the day should also not exceed 6-8 hours.
- Sunglasses protect you from UV radiation.
Eye drops for dry eyes are also frequently used.
These are often called "artificial tears" and are available in different consistencies. An ophthalmologist can tell you exactly which drops you need.