Theres nothing like itchy, irritated eyes to throw your day off course.
Maybe youre dealing with seasonal allergies, or you have something stuck in your eye.
Also known as dry eye syndrome, dry eye disease can trigger a variety of irritating symptoms.
Its also super common, affectingabout 16 million peoplein the US.
Here, learn everything you gotta know about dry eye, plus the best treatment options available.
What is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eyes in a blink of an eyeno pun intended.
Over time, if left untreated, it may even damage the eyes surface.
Causes
There aremanypossible causes of dry eye disease.
Aging also reduces skin elasticity, making the eyelids sag, says Perez.
This can prevent the eyelid from closing properly, which is key for spreading tears across the eyes surface.
Hormonal changes
Menopausecauses a natural drop in androgens, male sex hormones that women naturally have.
This can lead to dry eye, as androgenssupport the function4ofmeibomian glands.
Even the menstrual cycle can contribute to dry eye, as tear production tends todrop during the follicular phase5.
This phase is marked by low levels of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that affect tear production.
Environmental factors
Living in adry or windy areacan make your tears evaporate quickly.
Regularly wearing contact lenses can also worsen your symptoms.
Chronic conditions
Chronic conditionslike Bells palsy, diabetes, and hepatitis C are associated with dry eye.
The risk is especially high with Parkinson disease, as the condition reduces how often you blink.
At your appointment, they can evaluate the quantity and quality of your tears and rule out possible diseases.
They can determine the cause of your symptoms, along with a personalized management plan.
And as always, talk to your healthcare provider before trying a new treatment for dry eye disease.
Your eyes will thank you!
