Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your tears don’t adequately nourish and lubricate your eyes.

Normally, tears moisturize the surface of the eye, wash away foreign particles, and provide clear vision. Any excess tears flow into small drainage ducts located in the inner corner of the eyelids and then drain into the nasal cavity. When your tears are of poor quality or you don’t produce enough tears, your eyes can feel irritated and, in some cases, need the attention of a doctor.

Dry Eye Causes

Dry eyes can be caused by poor tear quality, lack of tear production, meibomian gland dysfunction, or general issues with eyelid health and function. The root cause of these issues may be any of the following:

• Age
• Gender
• Eye injury
• Medical conditions
• Environmental factors
• Eye or cosmetic surgery
• Taking certain medications
• Using digital devices

Certain medical conditions require treatment by a health care professional. Be sure to check with your doctor if your symptoms are severe.

Dry Eye Symptoms

The most common symptoms of dry eye are a stinging, burning, or scratchy sensation in one or both eyes. Other symptoms may include:

• Blurred vision
• Painful, bloodshot eyes
• Tired eyes
• Watery eyes
• A gritty feeling as if something is in your eye
• Excessive tearing or an inability to tear when emotional
• Sensitivity to light, wind, smoke, or wearing contact lenses
• Eye strain from prolonged visual activities such as reading or working on a computer

The Relationship Between Dry Eyes and Styes

A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is an infection in an oil-producing gland in the eyelid. 

The oil produced by these glands helps keep your eyes lubricated and prevents tear evaporation. 

If these glands become blocked or damaged, it can lead to dry eyes. Continued dryness can cause irritation which can increase the risk of infection and result in a stye.

The same bacteria that cause styes can also contribute to a buildup of contaminants on the eyelids, which can lead to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD can cause dry eye. You can use Stye^TM Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops to relieve stye and dry eye symptoms, 

When to see a doctor

If you have prolonged symptoms of dry eyes, your symptoms are intolerable, or you get frequent eye styes, see your doctor. Your doctor can accurately diagnose and treat your condition or refer you to a specialist if needed.

Dry Eye Prevention Tips

If you suffer from dry eye or frequent styes, it’s important to Keep the area around your eyes or eyelids clean and refreshed. Wipe away irritants like pollen, oil, dirt and other debris that build up through the day with Stye^TM Eyelid Cleansing Wipes. These wipes have a hypoallergenic, non-irritating formula designed to gently clean and refresh eyes without irritating the surrounding skin.

Try and determine what aggravates your dry eye symptoms and do your best to avoid situations that trigger a reaction. Follow these tips:

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Protect your eyes with sunglasses or eye shields.
• Avoid areas where smoking is permitted.
• Avoid situations where air can blow directly into your eyes.
• Take breaks from tasks that require long periods of visual attention.
• Be aware of the amount of moisture in the air around you and make adjustments such as adding a humidifier in winter.
• For some people, the use of nutritional supplements such as Omega 3 fatty acids can help.

Treatment Options for Dry Eye

For occasional dry eye, the most common treatments are aimed at providing relief from symptoms, maintaining eye health, and preventing any damage to your vision. Severe cases of dry eye may require medical attention to treat the underlying causes.

Common Dry Eye Symptoms Treatments:

• Applying a warm compress such as the Stye™ Eye Therapy Warming Compress
• Supplementing tear production with artificial tear drops
• Covering your eyes with a special contact lens
• Plugging tear ducts surgically to conserve tears
• Massaging the eyelid to help reduce inflammation

Stye™ Sterile Lubricant Eye Ointment relieves dry eye and stye symptoms like burning, stinging, itching and discomfort.

References

• http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye
• http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/dryeye/dryeye
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dry-eyes/DS00463/DSECTION=causes
• http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/dryeye/dryeye
• http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/dryeye/dryeye
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dry-eyes/DS00463/DSECTION=symptoms
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dry-eyes/DS00463/DSECTION=prevention
• http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dry-eyes/DS00463/DSECTION=prevention
• http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye