What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when your tears evaporate too quickly. This can be caused by:
- Aging: Tear production naturally decreases as you get older.
- Screen Time: Staring at screens reduces blinking, leading to faster tear evaporation.
- Environmental Factors: Wind, dry air, and air conditioning can dry out your eyes.
- Contact Lenses: Long-term wear can contribute to dryness.
- Medical Conditions: Diabetes, hormonal changes, and autoimmune diseases can affect tear production.
- Certain Medications: Some allergy meds, antidepressants, and blood pressure drugs can reduce tear flow.
Dry eye symptoms can vary from mild discomfort to more severe irritation. Common signs include:
- Burning, itching, or stinging sensations
- Redness or a gritty feeling (like something is in your eye)
- Blurred vision that improves when blinking
- Sensitivity to light
- Watery eyes (this happens when your eyes overcompensate for dryness)
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact us to schedule a dry eye consultation.
How We Can Help
At Vellore Family Eye Care, our eye doctor uses advanced diagnostic tools to find the cause of your dry eye. During your eye exam, we check how quickly your tears evaporate, look for blockages in your oil glands, and measure how much tear fluid your eyes produce.
We also examine your eye surface for dryness or inflammation. With these tests, we can pinpoint the problem and recommend the best way to relieve your symptoms.