Dry Eye Syndrome Symptoms: Look for the signs of the Condition
Most people experience dry eyes over time.
It may be due to some allergic reaction, using old contact lenses, or due to seasonal cold.
For people with dry eye syndrome, symptoms can either be persistent or come and go occasionally.
This could be a part of their daily life. Yet, they can treat their condition with early diagnosis.
As per UH Hospitals, an estimated 3.2 million women aged 50 and over and 1.68 million men aged 50 and over are affected by dry eye.
Let’s discuss the potential dry eye symptoms and understand the condition.
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is also called dry eye disease.
It is a chronic condition that occurs when the body cannot produce enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated.
Other medical terms for this disease include Keratitis sicca or Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
Dry eye symptoms can be frustrating, but their treatment is possible.
Nearly 20 million Americans live with this condition.
Symptoms
The dry eye symptoms vary from person to person.
Like other conditions, your chances of developing it increase with age.
You may experience a variety of symptoms.
A few of those are as follows:
Redness
Dry eyes may cause your eyes to appear red or bloodshot.
When you blink your eyes, a layer of tears spreads across the outer layer of your eye.
This layer of tears is known as the “tear film” that spreads across your cornea.
The film protects your eyes from infections and irritants.
It also keeps your eyes lubricated.
Yet, dry eyes may lead to less tear production.
When your eyes don’t have enough lubrication, continuous blinking may cause your eyelids to rub against the dry cornea, leading to irritation.
This hyperactivates the blood vessels in the Sclera (white part of the eye).
Hence, it can appear red and become swollen.
In some cases, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) may be the reason behind dry eye redness.
Meibomian Glands are tiny oil glands on the eyelids that protect the tear film by producing oil.
Difficulty blinking
Dry eye syndrome could prevent you from producing the right amount of oil and tear.
These are the essentials for protecting your tear film.
Your eyelids require a smooth surface so as to move across when you blink.
Without proper lubrication, dry eyes can create friction, making it difficult to blink.
Stinging or burning
Your eyes may sting or burn if they are not efficient enough to make either oil or tear.
Blinking is an important activity for the eyelids.
This helps to produce the oil necessary for protecting the tear film.
This oil brings lubrication, and your eyes might sting in its absence.
These dry eye symptoms can make it hard for the eyes to produce tears.
In the presence of little tears, your cornea may dry out and make you feel a burning sensation.
Scratchy eyes
When your eyes don’t get lubricated, they might feel gritty, scratchy, or sandy.
You may feel something is stuck in there and constantly irritating the eyes.
This feeling or condition is termed a foreign body sensation.
In general, the tear film aims to develop a protective layer between the eyeball and the eyelid.
With dry eyes, you might develop dry spots on your tear film.
This is among the dry eye symptoms that can potentially irritate your eyes.
However, these spots are temporary and can heal with proper treatment and keeping the eyes moist.
Blurry vision
When your tear film is lubricated, your vision should appear normal.
With dry eyes, your tear film may turn dry, and your eyes may become blurry.
A tear film is the first layer of the eye that sees the light.
If the tear film becomes dry, your vision might get distorted.
Blurry vision is among the most common dry eye symptoms that may appear for some time and then go.
Your vision might be apparent in the morning as your eyes are closed during sleep.
The dryness could quickly set in when you wake up and cause your vision to blur.
You can repair the tear film with treatments like artificial tears.
Artificial tears are a type of eye drop used to lubricate the eye.
When the tear film improves, you will notice that your vision is also improving.
Watery eyes
Some people may develop the inability to cry, while others might produce too many tears.
This may sound contradictory, but watery eyes could be among the dry eye symptoms.
Even researchers have suggested that this symptom might occur because of evaporative dry eye syndrome.
This evaporative dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes cannot produce the right tears.
Tears should contain a balanced amount of mucus, oil, and water to protect your eyes.
In the event that your meibomian glands don’t work as expected, you probably won’t have sufficient oil in your eyes to cover the tear film.
When to see a healthcare provider?
There could be several symptoms of dry eye syndrome.
In case you have a mild case of dry eye, you might have the option to deal with your condition.
You can bring specific lifestyle changes, like enjoying time off from work.
If you still notice dry eye symptoms, go immediately before seeing your doctor.
Dry eyes can be manageable.
However, you may develop more severe conditions like impaired vision if left untreated.
If the symptoms persist, speak to your eye care specialist, e.g., an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
They can help you recognize and understand the symptoms and suggest a proper diagnosis.
A quick review
Dry eyes are a medical condition where the eyes cannot produce enough tears or the right kind of tears.
As mentioned above, people with dry eye syndrome may have several uncomfortable symptoms.
However, the best part is that many treatments are available for dry eyes.
Getting tested early can help your ophthalmologist find the appropriate treatment option for you.
Overall, this might help keep your condition from progressing and preserve your vision.
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