Dry Eye Syndrome, also known as xerophthalmia, is a condition that causes eyes to dry out and become sore or irritated. It can be caused by physical conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome, LASIK surgery, or contact lens use.
Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is a common eye disorder that affects around 4% of the general population. It tends to develop in middle-aged women, though its cause is still unknown.
The symptoms of DES include blurred vision, headaches, pain, and irritation in the eyes. In some cases the sufferer experiences fluctuating vision and even mild disorientation. The symptoms can be alleviated with certain treatments, but they often come back when you stop using them.
DES is caused by an overproduction of tears: your body makes too many tears as opposed to too little. Your tear glands get exhausted trying to produce more tears than necessary, and they become less capable of producing enough tears as time goes on.
Though DES can’t be cured entirely, there are ways to control it with prescription drops for your eyes and lifestyle changes: avoiding smoke and contact lenses, drinking less coffee and alcohol, taking omega-3 supplements (fish oil), eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep every night, etc.
Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is a chronically dry feeling in your eye that can’t be fixed by simply crying or blinking more often. It’s caused by a lack of natural tears, which helps keep your eye moist, and usually progresses over time.
Although it’s not life-threatening, DES can affect your vision and quality of life. There are different types of DES, including Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS), which is an autoimmune disease that causes dry eyes as well as other symptoms like dryness in the mouth and problems with joints.
DES can be treated with artificial tears, punctal plugs for treating dry eyes, medications for autoimmune diseases and dry eyes, and wearing sunglasses to protect weak tear ducts.
