Dry Eye Disease
Suddenly, your eyes start watering, they sting, and feel uncomfortable—many people experience these symptoms after staring at a computer or phone screen for long periods of time. This can put you at risk for dry eye disease.
Dry eye disease is a condition caused by an imbalance in tear production, where the eyes either don’t produce enough tears or tears evaporate too quickly, resulting in discomfort.
Causes
There are two main contributing factors:
- Internal factors: These include increasing age, being female, visual habits (such as long hours of screen use), and certain medications (such as some acne treatments).
- External factors: These include low humidity, environmental conditions, and where you live or work.
Symptoms
Symptoms of dry eye include a sensation of something gritty in the eyes, a feeling of eye heaviness, dryness, or fluctuating blurred vision. These symptoms tend to worsen in the afternoon or after prolonged periods of visual strain.
How to Treat Dry Eyes
Currently, there are several treatment methods for dry eyes, with the main treatment being the use of artificial tears to lubricate the eyes and maintain moisture. However, if artificial tears don’t improve symptoms, an ophthalmologist may consider other treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medications or medications that stimulate tear production.
