We all know that dry eyes can spell trouble for our sight. Eye mucus and tears are what keep our eyes well-lubricated and protected. If the tear glands in our eyes don’t work properly, they can lead to eye dryness.

If you’re experiencing dryness in your eyes on a regular basis, then it’s time you learn about the cause, symptoms, cure, and other frequently asked questions about eye dryness.

Let’s get started.

Is Eye Dryness a Disease?

Eye dryness can either be a disease in itself or a symptom of another ailment.

Dry eye disease is an ailment where your tears are unable to adequately lubricate your eyes for a variety of reasons.

For example, dry eyes might develop if you don’t produce enough tears or experience irritation while wearing contact lenses.

Let’s take a look at the symptoms of dry eyes.

What Are Some of the Symptoms of Eye Dryness?

Eye dryness can be easily diagnosed by a patient themselves. However, it’s still better to visit a doctor for a follow-up with lab tests or imaging. Some of the common symptoms of eye dryness are:

• Light sensitivity
• Redness of the eyes
• A feeling that something is in your eyes
• Facing issues while driving at night
• Watery eyes (the body’s reaction to the irritation of dry eyes)
• Eye strain or blurred vision
• Stinging, burning, or scratchy feeling in your eyes
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes

How Long Do Dry Eyes Last?

How long dry eyes last varies from patient to patient. For some, it could be for a few hours, and for others, it could go on for about months. Depending on the time, the underlying issues can be either acute or chronic dry eye disease.

Acute vs. Chronic Dry Eye Disease

Acute dry eyes occur most frequently due to prolonged periods of screen time. It might also be due to allergies, dust, or a change in the weather. For people who are used to wearing lenses, it might also be due to wearing lenses for too long.

Chronic dry eyes might be due to other health factors such as diabetes, arthritis, or even lupus. The most common factor for dry eyes is glaucoma.

Will Dry Eyes Cause Blurry Vision?

Yes, most patients with eye dryness complain about not being able to see or read properly. The vision gets more blurry the more they try to read.

Will Dry Eyes Cause Headaches?

Dry eyes do not cause headaches directly. However, in some cases, reading may become difficult. And if you strain your eyes trying to read, you may experience a headache.

What Causes Dry Eyes At Night?

If you experience dry eyes more frequently at night, which is a common occurrence for people who have metabolic issues or experience excessive screen time, the good news is that you can bring about some tiny changes in your lifestyle to improve your condition. Here are a few things you can do to prevent dry eyes at night:

• Buy a humidifier: this will help to make sure that your room holds an ideal level of moisture.
• Little to no screen time before sleeping.
• Wash pillow covers regularly.
• Drink water before going to sleep.

Are Dry Eyes Dangerous?

Dry eyes for prolonged periods can endanger your health. In most cases, not having your tears produce enough or an adequate amount of moisture leads to infection. So, it’s better to go to a doctor and get treatment as soon as possible.

Dry eyes may lead to inflammation, ulcers, abrasion to the cornea, or even vision loss in the long term. If dry eyes go untreated, they could lead to permanent damage. Therefore, it’s better to treat dry eyes as soon as possible.

How Dry Eyes Can Be Treated

The safest thing to do is go to a doctor and get an eye check-up done!

On a personal hygiene level, make sure you wash your eyelids every day. You can also use nonprescription eye drops or any over-the-counter drop that helps provide lubrication. Using a warm cloth and compressing your eye with it might also provide some relief as well.

For people with long-term eye dryness, it is better to keep using eye drops even after it feels to have been treated.

Also Read : Answered: How Does Depression Affect Your Eyes?

Treat Eye Dryness Today at Prasad Netralaya!

Despite conventional beliefs, there are no tests that indicate major and irreversible damage to the eye due to dryness. Eye dryness can be treated effectively with the right set of pills and medication given at the right time. No matter how uncomfortable it is or how long it persists, there is nothing to worry about, as it is treatable.

Prasad Netralaya, the best eye clinic, has made a commitment to being the most trusted eye care center. Due to the dedication of our highly trained and specialized doctors and staff, we are able to meet even the most difficult challenges in treating vision problems such as cataracts and glaucoma. If you are experiencing dry eyes, visit us today!