The eyes are a sensitive body part responsible for visual accuracy and orientation. While many people are familiar with blindness as a major eye problem, other common eye problems, like dry eyes, are often swept under the carpet.
A dry eye is a problem that can affect your comfort and performance. When left unattended, it can compromise your vision. Get to know symptoms of dry eyes. And how to address the problem by reading this article.
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What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome or disease, medically known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears. Or when tears evaporate too quickly.
The lack of enough tears or quick drying up of the tears often causes friction. And other related problems in the eyes.
Tears are crucial for maintaining the health and lubrication of the eyes, providing essential nutrients, and protecting against infections. When the tear film is disrupted, various symptoms, including dry eye syndrome, can arise.
The Common Symptoms Of Dry Eye
Persistent Eye Discomfort And Irritation
Perhaps the commonest symptom of dry eye syndrome is irritation and discomfort. This problem often starts small and worsens over time, depending on how quickly the tears in the eyes dry up.
Eye discomfort and irritation may be presented in various ways, including the feeling of scratchy. Or gritty sensation in the eyes. It may also feel as though a foreign object is present in the eyes, pushing the patient to incessantly rub their eyes for relief.
This discomfort can worsen throughout the day. Or after prolonged visual activities like reading or staring at a screen. It is important to seek help as soon as possible if you’re experiencing this symptom. Your eye doctor should be able to diagnose the problem and offer the right treatment.
Excessive Tearing
Although this may sound counterintuitive, it is possible for you to experience excessive. And unforced tearing when suffering from dry eye syndrome. Please remember that dry eye syndrome isn’t the inability to produce tears. But the inability to retain them for lubrication once they are produced.
Excessive tearing is often common in instances where the eyes’ tear production is compromised. The effect often triggers a reflex that signals the continued production of tears.
Although more tears are being produced, these tears are often of poor quality. And do not adequately lubricate the eyes, resulting in ongoing discomfort.
Redness And Inflammation
Redness and inflammation are two common signs of an abnormality in the body.
A dry eye can cause redness in the eyes, particularly in the conjunctiva (which is the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inner eyelids).
Inflammation of the conjunctiva can occur due to insufficient lubrication. And can give the eyes a bloodshot appearance.
Blurred Or Fluctuating Vision
Victims of dry eye are more likely to experience blurry vision. A huge percentage of patients experiencing prolonged dry eyes often suffer from blurry vision, which is aggravated by the inadequacy of their tear film in retaining tears to keep the eyes lubricated.
It is important to note that any problem with the tear film can disrupt the smooth optical surface of the cornea, causing visual disturbances and intermittent blurriness.
Other common symptoms may include fluctuating vision. Especially during tasks that require focused attention or prolonged visual concentration.
Sensitivity To Light
Light sensitivity or photophobia is often a sign of many vision problems, including dry eyes.
People with dry eye syndrome often experience heightened sensitivity to light. Light sensitivity kicks in when such persons are exposed to bright light sources (whether natural or artificial), such as sunlight or fluorescent lights.
The sensitivity to light may become worsened as the patient is exposed to the problem. Or it may worsen over time if the patient fails to address the vision problem.
Eye Fatigue
People with dry eyes may experience eye fatigue. This problem is often characterized by tiredness. Or heaviness in the eyes. It is also likely to affect their ability to sleep. Or cause their eyes to tingle in pain when they shut or close them.
As a matter of fact, Eye strains are also common after prolonged periods of visually demanding activities, such as reading, driving, or working on a computer.
Eye Burning
Eye burning is characterized by a typical burning sensation experienced when the eyes are rotated or closed. This is another primary symptom of dry eyes, signaling the lack of appropriate lubrication for the eyes.
The burning sensation can be worsened when the patient or victim is exposed to dry air, wind, or air conditioning.
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