Dry Eyes - Demystifying the causes and cures

Have you found your eyes hurting for no apparent reason? Or have you found your eyes itching, red, blurry, or sensitive to light? One of the possible reasons is dry eyes.

So what exactly is a dry eye, and why does it happen?

Your eyes continuously produce "tears." You and I call them tears only when we see a flood of water.

Your child when she wants you to do something tearing up, for example. But your eyes are creating tears all the time; you just can't see it.

Tears are necessary to clear up debris, bacteria, and other particles to keep your eyes clean. Think of it like the windscreen wiper in your car, keeping your screen clean.

As we get older, our capacity to produce these tears is affected. You may develop a condition called dry eyes.

Dry eyes can occur if you are beyond the age of fifty. It can also happen if you wear contact lenses, spend a lot of time in air-conditioned environments, smoke or drink, or have medicines to regulate your blood pressure.

In rare cases, it can happen if you have a condition called Lupus or Sjogrens syndrome.

So, what can you do?

The most sensible thing to do is to consult a good doctor, who will diagnose the problem for you. Too many people self-diagnose and end up making mistakes.

Additionally, keep your eyes clean and wash them regularly, preferrably with clean water. Use monitors and screens sparingly, or take breaks as often as you can.

In many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, we are experiencing winter. Place a bowl of water in your room if you are using an air conditioner or equivalent to heat your room.

Place a bowl of water in the room, in case you are heating your room. Your eyes will thank you for it.

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