Having dry eyes means that too little tear fluid goes to the eyes. The consequence of the condition is that the eye is at increased risk of becoming inflamed. Normally, the lacrimal gland – located just above the eye at the front of the eye socket – secretes fluid that keeps the cornea of the eye constantly moist. If too little tear is secreted, the eye has a lack of moisture. How can you recognize dry eyes and how can eye drops help?

Dry eyes

• Characteristics of the condition
• Cause of dry eyes
• How can you reduce the complaints?
• Additional treatment and eye drops

Characteristics of the condition

Primarily, the eyes feel unusual, with the appearance of something constantly under the eyelids. An unpleasant feeling as if there is an irritating piece in the eye. Due to dry eyes, it also looks veiny, giving it an unkempt appearance. Because the eyes are irritated, you also run the risk of touching the irritated eyes with all the consequences that entails. The eyes become extra red and itchy. What can you do about this without causing additional damage to the eyes?

Cause of dry eyes

The tear gland located above the eyes does not produce enough tear fluid to supply the eye with sufficient fluid under the current circumstances. There are a number of reasons why the tear supply is disrupted:

• by wearing contact lenses. This gives the eye the physical feeling that sufficient tears are being supplied, but this can cause a drying feeling. This is because the cornea is not in contact with the open air;
• by having a continuous inflammation of the eyelids, possibly caused by a variant of the herpes simplex virus that occurs in cold sores and shingles;
• through the use of medications, which evaporate tear production.

If you live in dry areas or your eyes often come into contact with air currents, you may experience constant discomfort. Please note that the conditions may have been caused or worsened by the use of laser treatment.

How can you reduce the complaints?

It is important that the home climate does not become too dry. Modern homes have optimally functioning ventilation and ventilation. However, the humidity is often below par. Provide an automatic moisture diffuser or make sure you hang containers of water on the radiator. This way, enough moisture is continuously added to the air, so that the climate becomes better for your eyes. It is also important to avoid air conditioning and fans. Every air movement causes additional damage to the eyes.

Additional treatment and eye drops

To further treat dry eyes, you can make good use of sterilized fluids, such as artificial tears, which you can obtain in the form of eye drops. Regular drops improve the moisture in the eyes, which gradually reduces the symptoms. If one variant of eye drops does not work, switch to the other because you may also react to the moisture retention. If the condition persists for a long time, advice from a medical eye specialist is necessary to get rid of dry eye.

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