If you find yourself using eye-drops more than once or twice a week, if your eyes feel gritty or tight after watching television or staring at the computer screen, or if your peepers feel swollen and difficult to open right after waking up, you may suffer from chronic dry eyes.

While this condition is irritating and uncomfortable, it can be easily treated and prevented. The first step is identifying the problem and its causes.

EXACTLY WHAT IS CHRONIC DRY EYE?

We've all experienced dry eyes from time to time. When the eye does not produce enough tears, or when the tear ducts drain the eyes too rapidly, our eyes can feel gritty, hot, and painful. When this happens on a regular basis, the eye cannot stay properly lubricated, and the condition known as "chronic dry eye" can develop.

WHAT OTHER FACTORS CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC DRY EYE?

Many things can contribute to the onset of this condition. Windy and dry weather, improper protection from the sun's rays, eye strain, and poor eye hygiene are the leading culprits. Age, as well, is a factor. As a person ages, their ability to produce their own tears lessens. Medications such as antihistamines sleep aids, some antidepressants and heart medications, and anti-inflammatories list dryness of the eyes in their side-effects.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF CHRONIC DRY EYE?

Left untreated, chronically dry eyes can become breeding grounds for many infectious agents. The eye itself has four lines of defense against injury: eyebrows, eyelashes, eyelids, and tears. Eyebrows and eyelashes can prevent large objects (such as large dust and dirt particles) from entering the eye, and a person can naturally close their eyelids against certain irritants like high winds and dust clouds. Short of walking around with one's eyes perpetually closed, however, these defenses are incapable of fully protecting the eye. Tears are the most effective defense our eyes have against invaders such as dust, dirt, pollen, etc. Without ample lubrication, our eyes become vulnerable to microscopic abrasions from these foreign particles. These abrasions, left open and dry, become sources of infection, irritants, and possibly further injury that requires medical attention.

HOW CAN ONE PREVENT CHRONIC DRY EYE?

There are two main categories in our options of action: prevention and treatment. In the prevention category, we have tips and guidelines to ward off the onset of chronic dry eye. In the treatment category, we're given instructions

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Tips for treating dry eyes?
We want to hear your view. Write now!