At sometime during our lives we will experience having dry eyes. Every time we blink the eyelid coats the surface of the eye with moisture from your tears. This automatic and natural reaction prevents the eye from dehydrating and replaces moisture which has evaporated from the eye.
Those who are unable to make sufficient tears naturally or when there is a longer then average gap between blinks allows moisture to be lost, making the eyes unnaturally dry.
There are a number of causes for this eye condition:
* Those who wear contact lenses will experience dry eyes at some time, whether this be a frequent occurrence or an infrequent occurrence the eyes need to be re-hydrated.
This can be achieved by either removing the lenses and enabling the natural blink action provide the moisture needed or by applying an artificial tears to moisten the eye. Professional advice should be taken as to which products are suitable for use when wearing contact lenses.
The prolonged use of contact lenses may also expatiate the condition. One of the most common reasons is not removing lenses before going to sleep.
* Dry air conditions can lead to dry eyes. In the UK the most usual causes are central heating and air conditioning as these take the moisture out of the air which then affects the eyes.
People who live in hot, dry countries are more susceptible to dry eyes, although they are more accustomed to dealing with the condition those who go on holiday to such climates should take extra care to keep the eyes sufficiently hydrated.
This can be achieved by drinking plenty of water, blinking frequently or by applying artificial tears or eye drops at regular intervals.
* Insufficient blinking can also cause dry eyes. Anyone who stares at the television, computer screen or whilst reading and does no blink frequently will experience dry eyes.
The solution is easy and that is to blink repeatedly for a while to enable the eye to re-hydrate sufficiently as well as making a conscious effect to remember to blink! Alternatively for instant relief eye drops can be used.
* The aging process has a marked affect on the number of tears which are produced naturally. This type of dry eyes will need artificial tears to be applied to keep the eye moist and nourished. The older we get the more the likelihood that we will suffer from dry eyes.
* Hormonal changes, particularly during the menopause can also reduce the number of naturally produced tears and lead to having more frequent dry eyes.
* Certain medication can also lead to dry eyes as side effect or make an existing dry eye condition worsen. Beta blockers, the contraceptive pill and antihistamine are among the worst culprits.
Which for those who take antihistamines to help with hay fever may find that these make their eye conditions worse rather than better. This may be remedied by stopping the antihistamines and choosing to use another type of hay fever treatment such as a nasal spray or eye drops to treat this dry eye condition.
i have been writing health related articles for over 4 years. i have been writing eye and oral care articles for over 1 year, primarily for blink intensive