5 Common Symptoms of Dry Eye
Do you constantly feel like you need to itch your eyes? Do your eyes feel dry and uncomfortable? These are common signs of dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye is a condition that occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. This can cause your eyes to feel dry, irritated, and uncomfortable.
Keep reading to learn more about dry eye, including five of the most common symptoms!
What Exactly Is Dry Eye?
While you’ve probably experienced dry eye symptoms before, you may wonder what exactly dry eye is and how it presents. Dry eye syndrome, or dry eye disease, is caused by issues with your eye’s tear production.
Your eye needs healthy tears in adequate amounts to keep the eye surface lubricated and comfortable. If your eye isn’t making enough tears or the tears don’t have the right components, it can cause irritation on the surface of your eye, leading to dry eye.
What Are the Causes Of Dry Eye?
Dry eye has many potential causes, and certain lifestyle and environmental factors can also increase your risk of developing this condition.
Here are some of the common causes and potential risk factors to be aware of:
Your age: Many issues with your eyes become more likely as you get older. Your eyes may have a harder time making adequate tears.
Medications you take: Many medications can cause dry eye symptoms. So, if you’re experiencing dry eye, our eye doctors can discuss your medications to determine if they are a potential cause.
Your environment: Many environmental factors can cause dry eye symptoms. For example, seasonal allergies can contribute to dry eyes. Weather conditions can also play a role.
Medication conditions: Some illnesses and chronic problems can increase the risk of dry eye symptoms. Some of these conditions include diabetes, blepharitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.
Dry eye symptoms are frustrating, so no matter the cause, you deserve to find a treatment that works.
What Are Some Common Symptoms of Dry Eye?
Dry eye symptoms can vary from person to person, depending on the individual and the severity of dry eye. However, there are some symptoms that are more common than others:
Symptom 1: Eye Fatigue
When you don’t have enough tears, you may naturally blink more to try to lubricate your eyes. This process can make your eyes more tired, so you may notice it’s harder to keep your eyes open.
Your eyes may also feel generally irritated and uncomfortable.
Symptom 2: Mucus In And Around Your Eyes
Your tears are a mixture of meibum, mucus, and water. When these elements aren’t in the right balance, your tears won’t moisturize your eyes as they should, causing dry eye disease.
So, even if you have enough tears, they may evaporate more quickly and not cover all parts of the eye. When this happens, you could end up with a mucus discharge in and around your eyes.
Symptom 3: Watery Eyes
One common symptom of dry eye syndrome may seem confusing. Often, people with dry eyes have watery eyes, and this is because of how tear production works.
If you don’t have enough tears or your tears aren’t balanced, the glands that make the tears may become overactive. In response to the lack of nourishment, your eye may produce extra tears to try and lubricate your eye.
But, if the tears aren’t balanced, more tears won’t actually help the problem.
Symptom 4: Itchy, Dry Eyes 
While your eyes may feel watery when you have dry eyes, it’s also common to have the opposite sensation. Dry eyes can feel very uncomfortable.
Along with the dry feeling, it’s very common to experience itchiness. You may find that you are itchy and rubbing your eyes often but not having any real relief.
Unfortunately, constantly touching your eyes can irritate them further.
Symptom 5: Difficulty Wearing Contacts
When your eyes are too dry, too watery, or too mucus-filled, it can be challenging to wear contacts comfortably. If you can’t wear contacts like you are used to, it could decrease your quality of life and make it harder for you to see clearly.
Luckily, there are effective treatments available for dry eye symptoms.
Is Dry Eye A Serious Problem?
Dry eyes can range in severity. For some people, it’s a minor issue with minimal symptoms.
In these cases, over-the-counter eye drops or small lifestyle adjustments can alleviate the discomfort. For other people, dry eye becomes a consistent, severe problem that impacts their daily lives.
If you have frequent dry eye symptoms, you deserve to find a treatment that works, as these symptoms can be debilitating. Treatment options for dry eye include medications and gland treatment to help stimulate tear production.
At Complete Eyecare West, our eye doctors will examine your eyes and discuss your dry eye symptoms. Then, we will partner with you to determine what could be causing your dry eye and find an effective treatment plan.
Schedule Your Eye Exam Appointment
Dealing with dry eyes is extremely frustrating, but you don’t have to deal with these symptoms forever. The team at Complete Eyecare West is here to find treatments that alleviate symptoms and also help you make adjustments to address the root cause.
Are you experiencing symptoms of dry eye? Schedule an appointment at Complete Eyecare West in Columbus, OH, today!
