6 common causes of dry eyes

Dry eye syndrome (or dry eyes) is the most frequent problem in ophthalmology, although fortunately only rarely becomes very serious. It is mainly suffered by women after menopause, due to the hormonal changes, and it also occurs with age, systemic diseases and a side effect of pharmacological treatments, but in fact, anyone can be affected.

It manifests as a sensation of dryness or lack of tears, which causes various symptoms of ocular discomfort such as rubbing, itching, stinging, a gritty sensation, blurred vision, burning or lack of lubrication. There are many causes of dry eyes, here are six of the most typical...

6 common causes of dry eyes

1. Age

With age, there is a decrease in the effective function of the exocrine glands that affect the eyes, mouth, throat, etc.

2. Hormonal origin

If testosterone decreases or there are insufficient testosterone receptors, the gland begins to hypofunction. Women may begin to develop ocular dryness when they reach menopause as their androgens naturally decrease.

3. Pharmacological origin

There are multiple drugs capable of producing ocular dryness due to their secondary exocrine hypersecretory effects including anxiolytics, antidepressants, sleeping pills and hypnotics, antiparkinsonians, antihistamines and diuretics.

4. Lack of nutrition

Dry eye due to malnutrition or lack of vitamins was the most frequent cause of severe dry eye for millennia, and is still present in underdeveloped countries. In developed countries they are rare causes, and are usually produced by intestinal malabsorption (alcoholism, Crohn's disease, intestinal resections, etc.) or from diets lacking fats.

5. Inflammatory Origin

Infections of the lacrimal glands affect the aqueous glands that affect the mucous membrane that covers the eyeball.

6. Damaged glands

Glands can be damaged physically or through contact with chemicals. The severity of dry eyes due to trauma varies greatly depending on the extent of the trauma.

Dry eye treatment

There are many treatments, but they are not usually curative. The symptom is treated but often the root cause remains. Treatments that improve the quality of life of patients with dry eye can be changes to hygienic routine, artificial tears or eye drops, drugs that stimulate tear secretion and surgical techniques.