Why do I have Dry Eyes?
Dry eye is typically chronic and progressive, but it can also be transient or episodic. Dry eye is more frequently seen in females than males and is more common with increasing age. It is among the best examples of a multi-factorial disorder. In other words, many different things can both cause or contribute to dry eye.
The number one cause of dry eye is meibomian gland dysfunction. The meibomian glands are small oil-producing glands that run radially through the upper and lower lids. With each blink, they are compressed by the lids and express a small amount of complex lipid that bonds with the underlying tear structure to stabilize it and prevent evaporation of the tear film. Recent research suggests that meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is responsible for or contributes to nearly 90% of all cases of dry
eye.
A dry eye can be associated with systemic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome, which causes inflammation and drying of mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth. Hormonal changes can also cause dry eye, which sometimes occurs during pregnancy.
In addition to MGD, eye conditions associated with dry eye include allergy, trauma, infection, and chemical burns to the ocular surface. Eye surgeries like LASIK and cataract procedures, and cosmetic procedures involving the eye can also lead to dry
eye.
Medications can also cause dry eye. These include medications for allergy, hypertension, Parkinson’s syndrome, anxiety, depression, and even birth control pills. Both systemic and topical medications can cause dry eye. Note that non-prescription medications like antihistamines can cause significant dry eye.
Dry eye can also be situational or environmental. Dry eye is common in areas where significant indoor-outdoor variations are common. This is true of tropical climates where people transit between hot high humidity outdoor conditions and cool and very dry air-conditioned environments. Dry eye is also typically worsened by close work especially work that reduces blink rates or interferes with full eyelid closure.
