• They soothe the surface of your eyes & protect them from things like debris & infection.
• Each time you blink, they go over your eyes, then drain into the inner corners of your
  eyelids to the back of your nose.
• If you don’t make enough good-quality tears, your eyes can be dry & irritated.

Dry Eye Syndrome

• The second most common kind of dry eye happens because your body doesn’t make
  enough tears.
• This is called dry eye syndrome or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).
• Many things can cause it.
• Depending on what that is, it can go away on its own or last a long time.

Possible Cause: Age

Possible Cause: Certain Illnesses

• One is Autoimmune diseases, when your immune system attacks parts of your body,
  can affect your body’s ability to make tears & cause dry eyes.
• Examples include lupus & rheumatoid arthritis, as well as Sjogren’s syndrome, which
  attacks saliva & tear glands.

Possible Cause: Eye Surgery

• Dry eyes can be a side effect of cataract surgery & LASIK or PRK surgery, which
  correct vision problems.
• The nerves that help you make tears can be damaged during these procedures.
• Talk with your doctor about eyedrops & other things that can help.
• For most people, it gets better as your eyes recover.

Evaporative Dry Eye

• If your tears don’t have enough oil in them, they can evaporate (get absorbed into the air)
  before your eyes get enough moisture, the most common causes of dry eyes.
• This often happens when the glands that give your tears their oily texture are blocked.
• Also called Meibomian gland dysfunction, it’s treated with warm washcloths & lid scrubs that clear away the dead skin, oil & bacteria that can build up & plug the glands.
  

Tear Duct Infection

• Also called dacryocystitis, this happens when a tear duct,the small tube that runs down the
  length of your nose & connects to your eyelid, gets blocked & bacteria get in the area.
• It’s most common in infants, but it can happen at any age.
• Symptoms include pain, redness,swelling, too many tears, discharge from your eye & fever.
• Antibiotics are the most common treatment, but some people need minor surgery to clear
  it up.

Medications

• If you have symptoms of dry eyes and take medication, read the label.
• Some drugs, such as antihistamines, beta-blockers & some anti-depressants,
  can affect your tears & dry out your eyes.
• Talk with your doctor to find out if this is a problem for you.
  

What Can Make It Worse: Low Humidity

• If there’s not a lot of moisture in the air, in a heated or air-conditioned room or in
  an airplane, for example,dry eyes can get even more irritated.
• And a lot of wind can do it, too, that includes riding a bike without protective eyewear.
  
  

What Can Make It Worse: Too Much Screen Time

• Looking at a computer or phone screen for long periods of time can cause problems
  because you’re less likely to blink and get moisture over your eyes.

What Can Make It Worse: Contact Lenses

• They sit inside the tear film, so when that’s dry, it can make it difficult & uncomfortable,
  even impossible to wear them.
• Talk to your doctor if you’re having trouble with your contacts: It may help to change
  solutions or use, lenses made from a different material.

What You Can Do: Artificial Tears

• These aren’t the kind your toddler uses when he’s trying to get away with something.
• These tears come from the drugstore as drops or ointment.
• Some have a chemical that can stop working if you use them too long, but not all have
  that.
• Talk to your doctor about what may work for you.

What You Can Do: Change Your Diet

• Among other health benefits, flax oil & flax oil capsules also may help keep your eyes
  moist. 

Prevention

• If your eyes are dry, it’s a good idea to stay away from some things that can irritate them,
  like hair dryers, air conditioning, wind, smoke & some chemicals.
• Use a humidifier & take regular breaks if you spend long hours at a computer.
• During sports or outdoor activities, use swim or ski goggles or other protective eyewear
  that helps you keep moisture around your eyes.

When to Call Your Doctor

• If dry eyes are new to you and you’ve had them for more than a few days, talk with your
  doctor.
• It’s also a good idea to check with him before you use over-the-counter artificial tears.
• In most cases, dry eyes are more of an annoyance than a health danger, but it’s always
  best to be sure.

Copyright © 2012-2019 KosherWoman.com  
All rights reserved.