When the Eyes Are Dry
The symptoms are the same, but there is a difference between dry eyes and chronic dry eye syndrome. That gritty, irritated, burning sensation can be the result of eyestrain, exposure to dry air, or it can be caused by actual breakdown of the tear layer that covers the eye.
“People who sit in front of a computer all day long don’t blink as often,” says Dr. Steven Levin, of Levin Eye Care Center in Whiting. “When you’re doing close work, you don’t blink as often as you normally do, so that can give you dry eye symptoms. Dry air, pollution, abusing contact lens wear, drinking too much alcohol, even caffeine can all cause dry eyes. Fortunately, these conditions are temporary and will correct themselves with rest.”
Chronic dry eye syndrome is something else. The condition affects about 10 percent of the population. Women, especially those on hormone replacement therapy, are more prone to it than men, and it typically starts showing up after the age of 45. “We have a tear layer that covers the cornea and supplies oxygen and nutrients to our corneal tissue,” Levin says. “This layer is composed of three different layers that work in conjunction with each other. If any of these layers breaks down, you get irritation called dry eye syndrome.”
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to combat it. Levin recommends getting enough omega-3 fatty acids, eating a healthy diet, drinking adequate water and exercising.
“When you do the things you’re supposed to do to keep your body healthy, it affects your eyes,” he says.
Beyond general health, Levin starts with using artificial tears. “Stick with a name brand,” he says. “You don’t have to use a lot of them, so they last a long time.” Eye doctors often have coupons to help defray the cost.
For more severe cases, punctal plugs can be inserted to keep the eyes from draining, and new medications are very effective. “The key is that if you have dry eye, there are things you can do to make it livable,” he says. “You don’t have to put up with it.”
