Our vision is one of the most important senses we have that we need to take care of. We use it for almost every single thing that we do each day from reading books in our leisure time to working on our tasks.
The sad truth is that every day, we also face hundreds or even thousands of things that may put our vision at risk. Spending too much time on our mobile phones, or eating foods with high cholesterol content, are just a few examples.
One of the most common eye diseases is called dry eyes, which is what we will talk about today. If you’ve experienced this quite a few times already, you may need to start taking steps on treating it as soon as possible.
Dry Eyes Symptoms
Many specific indicators will tell you if you have dry eyes or not, but basically, they all can be divided into three major categories. Here are some common symptoms of dry eyes:
Burning
The first major symptom is the feeling that your eyes are burning accompanied by a stinging sensation. When your eyes are burning, the body will respond by producing too much water in your eyes to reverse the irritating feeling of burning.
Pain
In relation to this burning sensation, you’d also be experiencing pain in your eyes. This will include difficulty in wearing contact lenses or sensitivity to light. Dry eyes may also feel like there’s something that’s stuck in your eyelids.
Redness
In terms of appearance, redness is the most common indicator of dry eyes. You will also notice that there’s some type of fluid around your eyes, which often causes blurred or impaired vision. Feeling that your eyes are always tired is also a result of this,
What Causes Dry Eyes
Dry eyes can be the result of plenty of different factors. From how you take care of your eyes, to skin diseases, and even the food you eat, can all contribute to dry eyes. However, these factors are generally divided into two major categories:
MGD
The first cause of dry eyes is called MGD or meibomian gland dysfunction. This gland is responsible for secreting a form of oil that mixes with the watery liquid in your eyes to prevent it from drying up. However, sometimes this gland gets clogged and results in MGD. Treatment for dry eyes caused by MGD is widely available, but you have to make sure that you go see an eye doctor before it gets worse.
Reduced Tear Production
If MGD is caused by the failure of your eyes to produce oil that mixes with the water in your eyes, the other common cause of dry eyes is if your eyes are unable to produce water. This condition is called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which is often triggered by aging or is sometimes related to other diseases.
How to Prevent Dry Eyes
Dry eyes are treatable, but you also have to make sure that you take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent them from getting worse or to guarantee that you don’t suffer from them. Here are some ways that you can prevent dry eyes.
Proper Device Usage
Knowing how to properly position your computer is vital to ensure that your eyes don’t receive too much radiation. In addition to this, it’s always a good measure if you don’t spend hours on your mobile phone. However, as some of us are required to work in front of a screen, make sure that you take short breaks after long tasks that involve visual concentration.
Watch Your Health
Cholesterol is primarily responsible for the clogging of glands in different areas of your body, and that includes your eyes. Avoiding certain types of food that have high cholesterol content is a must. If you also smoke regularly, this can also contribute to dry eyes. Consulting your doctor for a strategy on how to quit may be helpful. If you don’t smoke, avoiding areas where there is a high concentration of it is also necessary.
Protective Eyewear and Humidifier
Since dry eyes are caused by your eyes losing oil or water content quickly, wearing protective eyewear can help lessen the rate of tear evaporation in your eyes. Using humidifiers that increase the level of moisture in the air may also help since dry air is also a significant contributor to this condition.
Your vision is a vital part of your day-to-day life. Making sure that your eyes are always at their best state is vital to the completion of your daily tasks. While many health conditions may impair your vision, dry eyes are one of the most common. Understanding what it is and how to prevent it is very important.
