It's not surprising that living in a dry, windy climate or wearing contact lenses can lead to dry eyes. But cold outdoor temperatures and some medications may also affect your tears. Read on for an expert's list of dry eye causes and ways to treat them…
If you take antihistamines regularly, have diabetes, or sit for hours in front of a computer, watch out for gritty, burning, itchy eyes.
Known as dry eye syndrome, the chronic condition occurs when you don't have enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated and nourished, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA).
Other dry eye culprits?
"Beware of ceiling fans, heaters and car air conditioning too," says Melissa Barnett, O.D., principal optometrist at the University of California, Davis Medical Center and California Optometric Association member.
Allergies, Sjogren's syndrome[1] and refractive laser surgery to improve vision are other causes of dry eye, which afflicts 3.2 million American women ages 50 and older, according to statistics compiled by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2011. About 1.5 million men are also affected.
The problem gets worse with age, growing from 5.7% of women younger than 50 to 9.8% of women 75 and older.
Multiple studies reveal that those suffering from dry eyes experience a lower quality of life, including eye pain and difficulty reading and driving, Dr. Barnett says.
Fortunately, many over-the-counter and prescription treatments are available.
References
- ^ Sjogren's syndrome (www.lifescript.com)
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