Whether it’s a burning sensation in the eye after a long day of staring at a computer screen or eye sensitivity after a sunny afternoon of cycling, these dry eye symptoms are uncomfortable and often annoying.
In general, there are three main reasons why you may be experiencing dry eye syndrome. Here are some dry eye causes:
- Your eyes may not produce enough tears: The simplest explanation is that your body simply does not produce enough normal tears to keep your eyes hydrated. This condition, called aqueous deficiency dry eye, occurs when the lacrimal glands do not produce enough tears to keep the surface of the eyes moist or healthy. This could be due to age, certain medications, a medical condition or even the use of screens.
- Tears may evaporate from your eyes too quickly: Tears may evaporate too quickly because of their quality or the environment (for example, a heated or air-conditioned place). It may also be due to lacrimal glands not functioning properly, producing tears that do not contain enough of the water component.
- The balance of your tears may be altered: Tears are made up of a complex mixture of ingredients that keep the eyes hydrated, lubricated and clean. If the balance of these ingredients is altered, the tears do not work as they should and you may experience dry eyes. This can happen if you have a blocked gland or if you have certain skin conditions such as rosacea.