You are likely to be diagnosed with dry eye syndrome if your eyes do not produce adequate tears or cannot maintain a normal tear layer that coats them. There is a higher susceptibility to bacterial infection, cornea scarring and inflammation. Though uncomfortable, dry eye syndrome will never lead to a permanent vision loss. So, what causes dry eyes? Let us find out.

What causes dry eyes and what you can do about it

1. Aging
Anyone can suffer from dry eyes, but the condition is more prevalent in older people. Dry eyes usually affect people over 50 years as the tear production declines with age. This is a natural cause of dry eyes, and there is no way for you to prevent it. However, to lower the impact and irritation that it causes, you can use artificial tears on a routine basis. This can offer additional lubrication to coat the eyes and relieve dryness.

2. Medications
Some medications, such as decongestants, antihistamines, antidepressants, hormone replacement therapy, and medications for birth control, blood pressure, and Parkinson’s disease, can be the cause of dry eyes.

3. Sitting in front of the computer for long hours
Most of our work nowadays happens online, wherein it is a prevalent practice to sit for long durations in front of the computer. These long hours will only put extra stress on your eyes, which can result in tension headaches. It is usually because the glands in your body fail to produce tears, which could moisturize or lubricate the eyes. Hence, irritation and dryness will follow soon. To prevent this from happening, you need to move away from the computer every twenty minutes. This can help your eyes regain the moisture in the time being.

4. Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune disease and diabetes
There are diseases that can result in modifications in the nerve tissue. Tear secretion is hindered when diabetes-related nerve damage takes place. It can cause the drying of the eyes, especially when your blood sugar levels are not under control. Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjogren’s syndrome can also in inflammation, which becomes the cause of dry eyes.

5. Laser surgery
Some people tend to experience dry eyes following laser eye surgery. In this procedure, certain nerves of the cornea are cut. This lowers tear production. It is a temporary form of dry eye syndrome and will usually go away in weeks or days. Till the time your eyes heal, you need to use lubricating eye drops to keep them moist.

6. Menopause
Lastly, hormones, too, may be responsible for dry eyes. At times, women experience dry eyes during pregnancy, while using birth control pills, or following menopause. Our hormones manage the production of tears and any imbalance in them will affect tear production. Though hormone replacement therapy would not necessarily better dry eyes, you can consult your doctor and start using some lubricating eye drops to reduce irritation and dry eyes.