Dry Eye Therapy in Oshawa, ON

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Tears are essential for protecting, nourishing, and maintaining your eyes’ health and comfort and providing you with clear vision. Dry eyes occur when you don’t produce enough tears, or the chemical composition of your tears is of poor quality. When your eyes don’t have enough tears, the corneal nerves can become exposed, which causes pain and irritation, especially while blinking.

While dry eyes are chronic, there are many reasons why they may develop in the first place. These include:

• Environment: Hot, dry houses during the winter, dry, air-conditioned homes in the summer, windy or smoky environments, or arid climates can cause dry eyes.
• Medication: Some medications have a side effect that causes dry eyes. These include antihistamines, antidepressants, decongestants, diuretics, and hormone replacement therapies.
• Age: As we age, our eyes change. Some patients may experience reduced tear production, and, subsequently, dry eyes.
• Gender: Women tend to be more susceptible to dry eyes, especially those who are pregnant or over the age of 40.
• Skin and eyelid disorders: Inflammatory skin disorders like rosacea, infections, and inflammatory eyelid disorders can all affect the tear film’s lipid layer, leading to dry eyes.
• Systemic disorders and other diseases: Conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, diabetes, thyroid conditions, or a Vitamin A deficiency can cause dry eyes.

Those who wear contact lenses, spend a lot of time working with digital screens, or have had laser eye surgery may also develop dry eyes.

Dry Eye Diagnosis & Treatment