Dry eyes may seem harmless at first, but many sufferers report that they significantly reduce their quality of life. Dry eye syndrome can impair vision and substantially reduce productivity and well-being, as studies have shown.
But in many cases, you can quickly take action against this so-called dry eye syndrome. Eye drops or other everyday tricks often help. If not, it’s important to look for and correct the causes, because in some cases, other conditions can be behind dry eyes.
Dry eyes at a glance
- Eyes can be dry because tears are produced too slowly or evaporate too quickly.
- The causes of dry eyes are often environmental: for example, contact lenses, long periods of working in front of a screen, heating air, or very dry, cold, or windy weather.
- Diseases such as allergies or rheumatoid arthritis can cause dry eyes. A vitamin A deficiency can also be the cause.
- Possible symptoms include itchy, burning, and red eyes, foreign body sensation, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.
- Treatment typically involves eye drops, usually in the form of artificial tears. These replace the missing tear fluid and rehydrate the eyes.
- In everyday life, it helps many sufferers to keep their living spaces more humid and to regularly look up from the screen and blink.
What are dry eyes?
When there’s too little tear fluid in the eyes, they become dry, and this is when the typical symptoms arise. Experts also refer to this as dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes are generally harmless and can be easily treated. In rare cases, however, a serious condition is the underlying cause. And if you don’t do anything about it, your eyes can suffer permanent damage.
Dry eyes are quite common. Studies show that one in seven people over 50 is affected. The increasing amount of time people spend in front of screens is likely also contributing to the increasing number of people suffering from dry eye syndrome.
There are two reasons why eyes dry out:
- The eyes produce too few tears. This can occur when the tear glands are inflamed.
- The tears evaporate too quickly, and the eye cannot keep up with producing new ones.
There can be various reasons behind both, which you will learn more about in the following section.
How do smartphones and tablets affect the eyes? Adults and children alike are spending increasing amounts of time in front of smartphone and tablet screens. Researchers have been investigating the effects of this on the eyes for several years. Some studies have shown that young adults, in particular, suffered more frequently from blurred vision and tired eyes when they spent more time on their phones. Studies have also shown that the more time spent on smartphones, the higher the risk of dry eyes [3] .
Causes of dry eyes
The causes of dry eyes range from heating air and excessive screen time to illness. But this is no cause for concern: In most cases, the eyes respond to the environment, and this can be adjusted. For many sufferers, dry eye syndrome occurs seasonally, for example, only in the fall and winter when the heating is on.
Environmental factors
The following factors in your environment can contribute to your eyes becoming dry [4] :
- Contact lenses
- Looking at screens for long periods without breaks
- Dry air due to air conditioning or heating
- Very windy, cold, dry, or dusty weather
- Alcohol and cigarettes
- Vitamin A deficiency
Diseases
It’s also possible that dry eyes are caused by diseases. Autoimmune diseases like lupus, for example, can cause the eyelids to become constantly inflamed.
Here are some diseases that can lead to dry eyes [4] :
- Allergies, for example, pollen allergy or house dust allergy
- Blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelid
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
In other cases, surgery – for example, for cataracts – leads to dry eyes.
If you suffer from dry eyes and cannot find a clear cause in your everyday life, or if eye drops and other measures do not help, it is best to seek medical attention.
Vitamin deficiency and dry eyes
A vitamin A deficiency can also lead to dry eyes and other eye problems—in the worst case, even blindness. This occurs especially when a significant vitamin A deficiency persists over a long period. In Europe, such a deficiency is relatively rare.
This is often caused by other conditions that prevent the body from absorbing vitamin A properly or using it too quickly. Examples include inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease, liver disease, diabetes mellitus, or an overactive thyroid. If such conditions are treated properly and those affected pay attention to their diet, a vitamin A deficiency can usually be prevented or remedied.
Intestinal flora and dry eyes
The intestinal flora, the interaction of trillions of microorganisms in the intestine, influences numerous areas of the body. Researchers suspect that the eyes and the intestines may also be connected through certain mechanisms. There are already studies indicating that intestinal dysbiosis, an imbalance in the intestinal flora, could also be linked to dry eyes.
Symptoms of dry eyes
With dry eye syndrome, the eyes don’t necessarily feel “dry.” In some cases, a relatively large amount of tears may even flow from the eye, but the eye itself may still feel dry.
Typical symptoms are:
- Itchy, burning, and red eyes
- Feeling of tiredness in the eyes
- Foreign body sensation
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
If the eyes are very dry over a long period of time, this can also lead to problems such as scarring, ulcers, and permanent vision problems.
Treating dry eyes
If there’s a clear cause behind dry eyes, it’s often enough to eliminate the cause. For example, regular ventilation or a humidifier can help combat excessively dry air in a room. In the meantime, it may be worthwhile to alleviate the symptoms with eye drops.
In some cases, however, it’s not quite so easy. In the following sections, we’ll introduce you to common measures for dry eyes: everyday measures, eye drops and other medications, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Measures in everyday life
These measures can help prevent dry eyes:
Increase humidity: A dry indoor climate leads to dry eyes. You can increase the humidity by ventilating regularly. If that’s not enough, try a humidifier. If you’re unsure whether your room is too dry, you can also get a hydrometer. This will measure the humidity indoors.
Relax strained eyes: If you work a lot on the computer, make a conscious effort to blink regularly and look out the window. This will relax your eyes and avoid staring at the screen for long periods, which can be eye-straining.
Protect yourself from the elements: If you’re prone to dry eyes, you can also consciously protect yourself from external influences such as wind, dust, pollen, and cold. On a stormy day at the seaside, for example, you can make sure to stay in sheltered areas whenever possible. Hats and sunglasses are also useful, depending on the weather.
Avoid touching your eyes: Rubbing your eyes because they itch or burn will only lead to further irritation and dryness. Try to develop other habits when your eyes burn: For example, briefly open the window or blink several times in a row.
Eye drops and medications
A typical treatment for dry eyes is artificial tears. These eye drops mimic the tears found in the eye and thus help rehydrate the eyes. For many sufferers, artificial tears provide rapid relief from symptoms. Artificial tears have no known side effects, and you can use them long-term.
There are also other types of eye drops and medications that are used, for example, when artificial tears or everyday measures are ineffective. Research is ongoing into new treatments, for example, active ingredients that inhibit inflammation or help the eye produce more tears.
If you would like to try eye drops, consult a pharmacy or ophthalmologist for advice.
Do omega-3 fatty acids help against dry eyes?
Omega-3 fatty acids have also been touted for some time as possible remedies for dry eyes.
Studies on this topic have so far produced mixed results. In some studies, omega-3 supplements were able to alleviate symptoms. In others, they were no more effective than placebos. Eye drops containing omega-3 are also being prescribed, which are said to have an anti-inflammatory effect in the eye.
The situation is different again if certain pre-existing conditions are present. Research on other eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, shows that sufficient omega-3 fatty acids may protect the eyes. This is because a higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids in the body has an anti-inflammatory effect and can dilate blood vessels. Omega-3 may therefore play a special role if dry eyes are related to vascular disorders.
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