Every day there are many people that suffer from a dry eye. This common health problem can cause further irritation from rubbing and environmental factors that can make the dry eye nearly unbearable. If you want to better understand dry eye syndrome, then you should look further into what it is and what causes it.
The Basics of Dry Eye
Most people understand the function of blinking and tears. These are two functions that we usually do naturally and without much thought. Tears are vital to keep the eye free of debris and dust particles, which we encounter frequently each day. Tears also maintain proper moisture on the eye. This sounds like common sense, but what some people do not know is that tears contain enzymes that help control microorganisms found on the eye. Simply stated, tears play a big role in keeping eyes healthy and functional.
When tear production slows or stops, the individual will begin to suffer from dry eye. Tears evaporate very quickly, which makes even slowed production an uncomfortable problem. Keeping eyes healthy by practicing good habits, especially when wearing contact lenses, can help reduce the chances of dry eye.
How Do You Stop Dry Eye?
Now that you know what dry eye syndrome is, how can you prevent this common health problem? There are many factors to consider when figuring out what causes dry eye. The best way to prevent or stop the problem is knowing what can cause it and avoiding or altering habits to ensure dry eye does not occur. For example, wearing contacts for too long can cause dry eye. To avoid it, make sure you properly clean and rinse lenses and only wear for short periods of time (often recommended by your eye doctor or the lens manufacturer).
There are many other potential causes of dry eye. Some medications, such as antihistamines and blood pressure medicine, can have a dry eye side effect in some patients. Infrequent blinking can also instigate dry eyes as well as outside factors, like dry air. Keep your eyes healthy by avoiding the causes of dry eye as much as possible and treating the problem with eye drops and habit or environmental changes should symptoms appear.