How Do I Know If I Have Dry Eyes?
August 23, 2023
Your eyes can feel irritated for many reasons. One common cause of eye irritation is dryness.
Your eyes need constant moisture to stay healthy, so they will feel uncomfortable when they aren't getting enough moisture. There are several dry eye symptoms to look out for.
Are you wondering what the most common symptoms of dry eyes are? Keep reading to learn more about dry eyes and if your eyes could be dry!
Dry Eyes and Tear Production
Healthy eyes must have enough moisture to stay well-lubricated. That moisture comes in the form of tears.
Your eyes are constantly producing tears to create a tear film that coats the surface of your eye. When your eyes have trouble making tears, or your tears are evaporating too quickly, your eyes become dry.
Your tears have three layers. The base layer is mucus, the middle layer is water, and the outer protective layer is oil.
When your eyes have trouble producing one of these components, the composition of your tears becomes unbalanced. If the composition of your tears is unbalanced, keeping your eyes moist and comfortable becomes harder.
Your eyes may become dry due to temporary factors like dehydration or dry air. But you can also get dry eyes because of a chronic condition like dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye syndrome is a condition that requires professional treatment as the symptoms won't go away on their own. The eye condition is highly prevalent and can affect anyone, but it's especially predominant in older patients and women.
Hormonal changes caused by pregnancy and menopause can sometimes trigger dry eye symptoms. Skin conditions can also be associated with dry eyes, especially blepharitis, which is severe eyelid inflammation.
The only way to know if you have dry eye syndrome is to see your eye doctor at Omni Eye Specialists for an assessment and diagnosis. But there are ways to at least know if your issue is dry eyes before you see your eye doctor. Here are the symptoms to look out for:
Redness
Dry eyes and inflammation are closely linked. Inflammation can trigger dry eyes, which are more likely to become inflamed.
You may not be sure if your red eyes or inflammation came first. However, it's likely that if your eyes are red, they're also inflamed.
If your eyes are inflamed, it could be because they're not getting enough moisture.
Burning and Stinging
Inflammation often makes your eyes feel like they're burning. Your eyes need a healthy tear film to protect against harmful bacteria and other minor irritants.
When your tear film doesn't have all the necessary components, your eyes are not only likely to become inflamed, but they're also likely to become irritated from the slightest touch.
Even just having your eyelashes brush up against your eye can cause stinging. When your eyes feel like they're burning and stinging, it's a good sign that they may be too dry.
Excess Watering
It may seem counterintuitive, but dry eyes tend to water a lot. These tears are reflexive.
Your eyes produce reflexive tears to flush out irritants but don't contribute to your tear film. These reflexive tears do help, but they cannot alleviate dry eyes. If your eyes are irritated and watering a lot, it can be a sign that they're too dry and require other lubrication or moisture.
Mucus Around the Eye
When the composition of your tears is imbalanced, your eyes may overproduce one component to compensate for the lacking component. If you don't get enough water in your tears, your eyes produce more mucus.
That mucus will then get stuck and build up around your eyes, especially in your eyelashes. Mucus buildup around the eye is a common sign of dry eyes.
Feeling Like There’s Grit in Your Eyes
One prevalent and unique symptom of dry eyes is feeling like there's something in your eye even when there isn't. The surface of your eye may feel gritty, but it's simply due to inadequate moisture.
Many patients want to rub their eyes to remove the grit that isn't there, but doing this is a bad idea. Rubbing your eyes will only worsen your symptoms and irritate your eyes more.
Instead, do your best not to rub your eyes and use artificial tears or eye drops to reduce any feelings of irritation you may experience.
Becoming Intolerant to Wearing Contact Lenses
If you usually wear contact lenses without any issues, but they've become harder to wear, it could be because your eyes are dry and not receiving adequate hydration. Improper contact lens use can trigger dry eyes.
However, if you're using contact lenses correctly and it worsens your existing eye irritation, this could be a sign that you already have dry eyes. Contact lenses naturally dry out your eyes when you wear them.
If your eyes are already dry, wearing contact lenses can make them even drier and make you far more uncomfortable.
Dry Eye Treatment
If you're experiencing these symptoms, there's a good chance you could have dry eyes or a chronic eye condition like dry eye syndrome. If your eyes are too dry, you should see your eye doctor for help.
Dry eyes can lead to many lasting issues with your eyes when left untreated. Take your first steps towards treatment and feeling better by requesting an appointment at Omni Eye Specialists in Baltimore, MD, today! Isn't it time to love your eyes and vision again?