There are two significant causes of Dry eye
- Environmental factors: A high level of tear evaporation.
- Physiological factors: Not enough tears produced by the eyes to keep the eyes lubricated.
There is a certain level of tear film required by the eyes so it can maintain its comfortable and natural state and if this level is disrupted, you will begin to notice symptoms of dry eye.
Environmental Factors
The primary environmental factor that causes dry eye is wind exposure. If you are engaged in activities that cause the wind to blow heavily against your eyes, you will find out that your eyes feel dry within a short time. Try not to look directly into strong winds, especially if particles or sand are flying by.
Exposing your eyes directly to chlorinated water or salt water will quickly dry your eyes out. If you have chronic dry eyes, this can be a serious problem. Be sure to avoid this.
The third environmental factor that causes dry eyes is light. This could be from sunlight, artificial light, or light from a device. Direct exposure to a bright light source for an extended period of time can dry your eyes very quickly, so take precautions to avoid this.
Physiological Factors
As much as the environment plays its role in the creation and exacerbation of dry eye symptoms, there are also some physiological factors that can do the same too.
A major physiological factor is your diet. Alcohol and Caffeine are common culprits in dietary causes of dry eye. If you consume a lot of alcohol or coffee make sure you decrease consumption or compensate for your dry eye with remedies.
Another important factor is your biochemistry. If you use any one of oral contraceptives, blood pressure medicines, or antidepressants, they can interfere with your body’s biochemistry and affect the regulation of tears in your eyes. Be sure to check the side effects of the medicine you take to see if it causes dry eyes.
The third physiological factor that causes dry eyes is age. The level of tear production reduces with age, and as you grow up, there is a fluctuation in hormone production which also has its contribution to the occurrence of dry eyes. Menopause is also another thing that comes with age which can lead to dry eyes.
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