Your Dry Eyes and What You Can Do About Them

July 29, 2007 | Author: admin | Filed under: Treatment

Your Dry Eyes and What You Can Do About Them
By Suzanne Hughes

When we think of tears, we think they are evident only when we laugh, cry or yawn. The fact is, they are produced all day long to lubricate the eye and protect it from damage. If your eyes are healthy, you never realize that your tears are doing their job. It is when you have dry eyes that you notice their absence.

Tears are a complex combination of water, oils, proteins and mucus. A delicate balance of these substances bathes the eye and provides a film that ensures it is protected from infection and irritation. When the eye does not produce tears, it can become red and irritated.

Dry eye syndrome can be caused by a variety of things. It can also range from mild to severe. If there is not enough moisture in the air, dry eyes can result. Medications can also cause a drying of the tear duct, as can aging and age-related conditions, such as menopause. Contact lens wearers can suffer from dry eyes, especially when the lenses are worn longer than prescribed. Dry eyes can also be a symptom of other diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

In recent years, a new cause of dry eyes has become more widespread. Constantly viewing a computer screen for extended periods of time can result in eye dryness. People tend to blink less when they view a monitor, and blinking is important to eye health as it helps distribute much-needed liquids across the surface of the eye. If they are not distributed, the eye can become dry. Rubbing the eyes, though it might seem as though it helps, really does not alleviate the discomfort. It just causes more friction on the dry surfaces.

Depending on the cause of the problem, it can be treated in a variety of ways. A humidifier can put more moisture in the air, therefore lessening the effects of this affliction. Sunglasses can help shield your eyes from dust and other foreign bodies that can cause irritation. An eye care practitioner can dispense artificial tears to help add moisture to the eye.

Be sure to consult a professional, as many over-the-counter products that promise to reduce redness do not actually treat the cause of the dryness. It is important to discover the underlying issues, as well as address them appropriately.

Suzanne Hughes is a eyeglass specialist at http://www.readinstyle.com where she assists people who are looking for that perfect pair of reading glasses to help alleviate eye strain and reduce the symptoms of computer vision syndrome, which can lead to dry eyes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Hughes http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Dry-Eyes-and-What-You-Can-Do-About-Them&id=627592

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